Paris Saint-Germain secured a thrilling victory over Liverpool in a tense Champions League Round of 16 second-leg clash at Anfield. The French giants edged past the Reds 4-1 in a penalty shootout after a 1-0 win on the night, leveling the aggregate score at 1-1.
Ousmane Dembélé’s early strike stunned the home crowd, and despite Liverpool’s relentless pressure, PSG held firm to book their spot in the quarterfinals.
Dembélé Stuns Anfield with Early Goal
Liverpool started the match with high intensity, pressing PSG’s defense from the opening whistle. However, against the run of play, PSG struck first in the 12th minute. A deflected shot from Bradley Barcola fell kindly to Ousmane Dembélé, who made no mistake in tapping it into an empty net. It was the earliest goal Liverpool had conceded at Anfield in the Champions League since 2017, setting the tone for a tense encounter.
Liverpool Dominate but Fail to Break Through
The Reds responded with attacking intent, creating several opportunities in the first half. Mohamed Salah’s effort was blocked on the goal line by Nuno Mendes, and Ibrahima Konaté forced a diving save from Gianluigi Donnarumma. Despite their dominance, Liverpool struggled to find the back of the net.
In the second half, Liverpool increased the pressure, pinning PSG deep in their own half. Dominik Szoboszlai thought he had scored the equalizer, but his goal was disallowed due to an offside in the buildup. As the clock ticked down, Donnarumma made a series of crucial saves, keeping out dangerous attempts from Salah, Darwin Núñez, and Luis Díaz.
Extra Time Drama and Shootout Tension
With neither side able to find a breakthrough, the match went into extra time. Liverpool continued to push forward, but PSG’s defense remained resolute. In the dying moments, Dembélé nearly secured victory for PSG with a powerful strike, but Alisson Becker pulled off a stunning fingertip save to keep Liverpool in the contest.
The game was ultimately decided by penalties. Salah confidently converted Liverpool’s first spot-kick, but the momentum quickly shifted in PSG’s favor. Donnarumma made two massive saves, denying both Núñez and Curtis Jones. Meanwhile, PSG’s penalty takers—Vitinha, Gonçalo Ramos, Dembélé, and Désiré Doué—were clinical, sending PSG into the next round with a 4-1 shootout victory.
Luis Enrique Praises PSG’s Resilience
After the match, PSG head coach Luis Enrique expressed pride in his team’s performance. “Both teams deserved to go through, but my players showed incredible character, especially at Anfield, where the atmosphere is always intense,” he said.
Liverpool Look Ahead to League Cup Final
Despite the disappointment, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk urged his teammates to move forward. “We’re obviously disappointed, but we have to lift our heads and focus on the next challenge,” he said, referencing Liverpool’s upcoming League Cup final against Newcastle United.
With this victory, PSG now look ahead to the quarterfinals, where they will face either Aston Villa or Club Brugge, while Liverpool shift their focus back to domestic competitions.
