Liverpool 0-2 PSG (0-4 agg): Dembélé double seals Reds’ Champions League exit

Liverpool 0-2 PSG (0-4 agg): Dembélé double seals Reds’ Champions League exit

Liverpool exited the Champions League after a 2-0 quarter-final second leg defeat to holders PSG at Anfield, courtesy of Ousmane Dembélé’s second-half brace punishing their profligacy and overturned penalty decision.

In a repeat of the first leg score line, it was a brighter showing from the hosts but they were ultimately unable to find the cutting edge required to mount an unlikely comeback against Luis Enrique’s disciplined side.

It was his Ballon d’Or winner that proved to be the difference, as the Parisians knocked their hosts out of Europe’s top club competition for the second season running to reach the semi finals and keep their trophy defense going strong.

As It Happened

Liverpool started on the front foot, pressing aggressively and looking to move the ball quickly through midfield in an attempt to disrupt PSG’s rhythm. The hosts showed greater urgency than in the first leg, pushing their full-backs high and attempting to stretch the visitors’ defensive shape.

Despite that early intensity, clear chances were limited as PSG remained compact and organised without the ball. The visitors were content to absorb pressure and wait for opportunities to break, with their attacking players offering a threat whenever space opened up in transition.

The game’s key turning point arrived in the second half when Liverpool were awarded a penalty after Alexis Mac Allister fell to ground under the challenge of William Pacho, only for the decision to be overturned following a VAR review.

It halted the hosts’ momentum at a crucial moment, shifting the balance of the contest back in PSG’s favour just after the hour mark.

The holders took full advantage in the 72nd minute through Dembélé collecting the ball just outside the penalty area, shifting it onto his stronger foot before driving a low, precise effort into the bottom corner to silence Anfield.

As Liverpool pushed forward in search of a response, they left spaces at the back, and PSG punished them again late on.

A swift attacking move cut through the stretched defense, allowing Dembélé to finish calmly by guiding his shot beyond Giorgi Mamardashvili to confirm PSG’s progression and condemn Arne Slot and Liverpool to a season without silverware.

Analysis: Why Liverpool’s missed moments cost them at Anfield

Liverpool’s approach was far more proactive than in the first leg, but their inability to convert pressure into meaningful chances ultimately defined the tie. The overturned penalty proved a pivotal moment, not only denying them a potential route back into the contest but also disrupting their rhythm at a critical stage.

PSG, meanwhile, executed their game plan with precision. They remained defensively disciplined, limited Liverpool’s opportunities, and showed composure in the final third. Dembélé’s finishing highlighted the difference between the two sides where Liverpool hesitated and PSG were decisive.

In the end, the tie underlined the importance of efficiency at this level. Liverpool had moments of promise but lacked the clinical edge, while PSG demonstrated the composure and quality required to progress comfortably into the semi-finals.