Liverpool has been eliminated from the Champions League following their 17th loss of the season, increasing uncertainty around manager Arne Slot's future at the club.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot
Uncertainty over Arne Slotâs Anfield future continues to increase after Liverpoolâs 17th loss of the campaign - Phil Noble/Reuters
They fought to the end and maybe it would have been different had a penalty award, when the game was goalless, not been overturned. It looked âsoftâ when it was given. But the debate will rage over whether it was enough for the VAR to intervene.
Maybe it would have been different had the original decision stood. Maybe with the momentum with Liverpool, surging at The Kop, it would have been the moment that led to another incredible comeback. Another famous European night.
And yet, once again, PSG proved to be far too good and it is going to take a formidable effort to stop the French giants from retaining this trophy in the final in Budapest next month.
The importance was not lost on the Ballon dâOr winner who famously missed a golden chance for Barcelona in that semi-final in 2019, which would have made it 4-0 to them on aggregate. His celebrations appeared pointed.
This time there would be no glorious Liverpool recovery even if Arne Slot did his best to try and summon one.
What now for the Liverpool head coach? In the unrelenting rain he was animated throughout, as animated as he has been in the Anfield dug-out. At times it felt almost Jurgen Klopp-like especially when he went to play the ball as it appeared to be going out â but it did not â only for the referee to stop the game and warn him.
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot talks to the referee
Slot receives a talking to from the referee after nearly getting involved in the play - Jon Super/AP
Indeed Slot tried to kick every ball. He cajoled and he hoped but in the cold light of day, Liverpool have lost home and away and without scoring.
In that unrelenting glare the fact is Liverpool have been beaten in 17 games in all competitions this season and in four of their last five, also exiting the FA Cup. In three ties against PSG and Manchester City the aggregate is a crushing 8-0.
That feels brutal. But it is there in black and white. At the very least Slot has to ensure Liverpool are in the Champions League again next season.
If they play like this in the Premier League it will not be a problem. But it is Everton away on Sunday and, conversely, if they fall below this intensity and intent in the Merseyside derby the pressure will spike.
Despite the performance there will also be scrutiny over Slotâs team selection as he handed Alexander Isak a first start since the striker broke his leg in December and after just two brief substitute appearances. Unfortunately it did not work with Isak not making it past the first-half and unable to cope with the pace and physicality of it all.
Marquinhos battles for the ball with Liverpool's Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak (right) appeared off the pace as he made his first start of 2026 - Paul Ellis/Getty Images
But, with Slot starting with all six of Liverpoolâs big signings last summer, it looked like he was going out, if that was to happen, with his team and his line-up and his approach.
It meant he also, once again, named Mohamed Salah among the substitutes, as he had done in Paris last week, although he did get on after just half an hour. This was therefore Salahâs last Champions League appearance for Liverpool.
Sadly he was only introduced after Hugo Ekitike suffered what appeared to be a horrible achilles injury, as he twisted in the turf off the ball, that may well end not just his season but jeopardise his place in Franceâs World Cup squad. âIt looks really bad,â Slot later admitted.
The fans did all they could â as everyone knew they would. The atmosphere built, the backing grew and Liverpool could not have asked for more as the conditions, the swirling wind added to the sense of jeopardy. As did the importance of scoring the first goal.
Liverpool will reflect on what happened soon after Salah arrived as he crossed with Ibrahima Konate meeting it and the ball eventually falling to Virgil Van Dijk who appeared certain to score â only for Marquinhos to slide in with a remarkable block. The PSG captain celebrated with a scream of satisfaction.
They will also reflect on PSG goalkeeper Matvei Safonov making some fine saves â to deny substitutes Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha â and Milos Kerkez volleying wide when the goal beckoned from another Salah delivery.
And they will reflect most of all on the penalty incident as Alexis MacAllister went down as he was challenged by Willian Pacho. The Italian referee Maurizio Mariani pointed to the spot but was sent to the pitchside monitor by the VAR and changed his mind.
Was that the moment? Maybe it was or maybe it was the save soon after from the lively Ngumoha â who had come on to chants of âRio, Rioâ â before PSG capitalised and scored.
By now the Liverpool noise had inevitably abated. But at the final whistle there was applause. No-one could fault the effort. But the focus will again fall on the application â from Slot and his players â if Liverpool are not on this stage next season.
10:49pm
And finally, hereâs Arne Slotâs post-match interview with Prime
[Hugo Ekitike] is not too good Iâm afraid. We could all see it didnât look good but letâs wait and see what it could be [rather than speculating what it could be]. He went home in the second half so I havenât seen him yet.
Losing a game the way we lost it is very hard but again as it seems to be, losing a player has happened to us so many times this season and especially very hard for him because you never want to be injured in this part of the season.
[Surprised the penalty was overturned?] No. If you look at our season so many decisions have gone against us. For me itâs quite simple. If the referee doesnât give a penalty, the VAR would never have overturned it but I have seen so many soft penalties given and VAR canât interfere because the referee has seem contact. And there was contact. Unfortunately we couldnât score a goal because that was a moment but we had multiple chances in the second half and one big one in the first. But last week there were two decisions that maybe went in our favour, a penalty overturned and a push in the back so, unfortunately we couldnât score a goal. Anfield was already rocking at 0-0, let alone what would have happened if weâd scored the 1-0.
Last week was tough and very difficult. We have shown in a weekâs time we can improve a lot and how they showed themselves after playing two days ago [sic] was incredible. They kept on going even at 1-0 down so thatâs a big compliment to them. But it has happened all season if you look at xG. We should have scored two but we didnât score one. Far too many times itâs happened this season.
Yes, of course, Champions League qualification is the minimum [requirement] and we have to play for that in the upcoming weeks..
I said before the game we had 88 minutes till now with Alex, Florian and Hugo on the pitch. How many more today, 35? The good thing is that Alex is able to make minutes.
Many people have said the club is in transition. We have sold 8-10 players to recoup money to sign five or six very talented players. Now we are losing Mo and Andy on free transfers as we lost Trent on a free transfer. This model means we have to sell usually to buy. Itâs going to be a big challenge. This club has shown this model works. You can see we have signed good and talented players who will go into their second season [stronger]. The future looks really good if we could add some good signings to replace the very good players who are leaving.
To be honest we can say yes and no [it was a fair result] because when er played there they had many chances and only scored two. We thought we could create something special at Anfield and we created many chances. I thought we were the better team. Thatâs why itâs a bit unfair. They had one or two clear chances and this is football.
I think it was a clear penalty. We have to deal with that [being overruled]. If we get that penalty and score, itâs all different.
We have to be happy [with our performance] because we had many players who came back from injury.
Very sad for Ekitike. I think itâs bad to be fair. With the World Cup coming itâs very, very hard for him and I send him my prayers.
The game of today meant a lot of things. The PSG of this season is a little bit better than last year. To make a performance like that against them, we have to build from that and realise how good we can be.
Itâs minimum standard for Liverpool to play in the Champions League. We have six games left and we have to be all-in to be in it next season.
Creditable performance by Liverpool, a team in transition. But PSG were too good for them. Too good for anyone I would wager. Luisi Enrique is on course to win a third European Cup, the same as Pep Guardiola.
This incarnation of PSG really are a delight to watch.
Jones and Gakpo keep going, trying to find a way through but Marquinhos and Pacho plus the substitute Beraldo keep shutting the door.
09:49pm
81 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 1 (0-3)
Liverpool are growing frustrated. No rub of the green in the box as yet.
Liverpool's Florian Wirtz shows his frustration during the UEFA Champions League quarter-final match at Anfield, Liverpool
Peter Byrne/PA
09:47pm
79 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 1 (0-3)
Liverpool keep huffing and puffing, trying their best but Marquinhos is terrific and Safonov, who I thought was an obvious downgrade on Donnarumma, has done very well in both legs.
Ngumoha goes again, dribbling in from the left, tacking across the 18-yard line before shooting with his right. On Saturday he found the corner. Tonight he is twio yards closer to the middle and gave the keeper more scope to save.
09:32pm
67 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
After 22 minutes, Gomez is hooked.
Ngumoha â Gomez.
And in his first sally he wins a corner by dribbling down the left.
Mac Allister heads the corner wide from a yard in front of the near post.
09:31pm
No penalty
The referee withdraws his decision. Odd given that he was caught from behind, however soft. Given that it was given was it a clear and obvious error? I donât think so. But wouldnât have quibbled had it not been given originally.
Itâs the right decision not to award a penalty. It was actually a surprise Maurizio Mariani, the Italian referee, gave it initially but the incident merely highlights what is within Liverpoolâs grasp. It also makes you ask the question why Liverpool havenât been able to ghet to these levels consistently this season. We have 20 minutes of this absorbing tie to play and Rio Ngumoha has been introduced for Joe Gomez, who left the pitch and immediately spoke to Liverpool club doctor Jonathon Power and indicated he may have an issue.
09:29pm
Liverpool penalty?
VAR check after Mac Allister is eased off his feet by Pacho. He spread his legs to shield the ball and there was contact from behind but not much.
Marquinhos of Paris Saint-Germain, Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool and Referee Maurizio Mariani speak during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield on April 14, 2026
Richard Sellers/Getty Images
The referee is called over to the screen.
09:28pm
62 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Allez, allez, allez rings out as the crowd plays its part. Gravenberchâs tame daisycutter of a shot from the left is easily stopped bY Safonov.
Kerkez steals in from the left and has to meet Salahâs wafted cross/shot with a right-foot finish because of the angle, stabbing his effort with his winger across the six-yard box and out for a goal-kick.
This may prove to be famous last words but this task doesnât feel like it is beyond Liverpool. They keep getting themselves into threatening positions and, for the first time, PSG are starting to look distracted by the pressure. It remains more unlikely than likely but if Liverpool get the final ball right, there will be opportunities. It was 10 years ago tonight they turned around an improbable situation against Borussia Dortmund and you wouldnât say history cannot be repeated. Itâs crying out for a player to grab things by the scruff of the neck and make themselves a hero. Florian Wirtz, anyone?
09:20pm
56 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Gravenberch surges down the inside-right channel. Alan Shearer wants him to lay it off to a striker but he keeps gobbling up the yards and decides to have a pop himself from 20 yards, thrashing a shot that wobbles and climbs and ends up in the Kop.
09:18pm
54 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Wirtzâs cute return pass sends Salah down the line of the penalty area and so often he would skitter in with the ball attached to his left foot but his first touch is too heavy and allows Pacho to close him down and knock it away.
Gakpo waves at the Kop to get on their feet after he surprises Safonov by taking a right-foot shot on early and tries to guide it into the bottom right. The keeper pushes it round the post.
09:13pm
48 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Kerkez and Szoboszlai leave Doue hurt as the latter eases him off the pitch and he collides with a boom mike and stand. Liverpool play on against 10 men.
Desire Doue of Paris Saint-Germain reacts after colliding with an LED board after being challenged by Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool
Carl Recine/Getty Images
09:11pm
46 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Slot aborts the Isak experiment at half-time as he said he would. Gomez is also coming on at right-back. Liverpool are attacking the Kop and Szoboszlai starts on the front-foot with a brute of a whipped, dipping cross. PSG get it away but the crowd wants more of that.
Gomez â Frimpong
Gakpo â Isak
08:57pm
Half-time: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Liverpool have been OK. They have emerged unscathed from PSGâs swarming attacking moves. Sometimes they take over the final third like the weasels took over Toad Hall. But their best chance, from Salahâs cross, highlighted how good Marquinhos is. Still, 0-0 is a decent launching pad but with Isak likely to go off imminently, it will be interesting to see of Slot allows Ngumoha the chance to give Liverpool lift off. Or will he go with Gakpo?
08:54pm
45+4 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Salah is haring back to cover and as a sign of his intent it is encouraging. Two minutes before he had been running through the middle after a pass when Pacho leant across him and knocked him off his feet. Anfield bellowed for a penalty or at the least a free-kick but the replay shows it was probably fair.
08:51pm
45+2 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Four minutes of stoppage time begin with Mac Allister being booked for a late, sliding tackle on Joao Neves. That would rule him out of the first leg of the semi should Liverpool make it. He slipped but the ref had to bring out the card all the same.
Liverpool corner on the right after Kvaratskhelia misjudges a tackle on Salah. Salah takes it but itâs far too flat. Heâll get a second chance, though and slips Gravenberch in down the line. He pulls a pass back towards the penalty spot from the byline but itâs PSG who read the danger best and hustle it away.
08:42pm
39 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Nuno Mendes has been unable to recover from a knock and is having to go off.
Lucas HernĂĄndez â Nuno Mendes
08:41pm
37 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
But, as George Graham famously observed, when you need to win by two goals at Anfield, 0-0 at half-time is fine. Get one halfway through the second half and then pounce at the death. Doesnât matter when you score.
08:40pm
35 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Just as Liverpool were building up a head of steam, PSG puncture their belief with a spell of keep-ball. Liverpool twice win it back but then give it to a black shirt.
Oh dear. Here comes the stretcher. Anfield greets Mo Salahâs warm-up on the touchline with their song to to the tune of Jamesâ biggest hit. Salah places a gentle hand of consolation on Ekitikeâs head as he is carried past him.
Ekitike on a stretcher
Ekitike is consoled by his team-mates as he departs on a stretcher - FRANCK FIFE/AFP
That looks to be an awful moment for Hugo Ekitike, who went down clutching his right ankle with nobody around him and needed some of the PSG players to hold his leg while help came from the bench. Itâs indicative of the way things have gone for Arne Slot this season that he hasnât been able to get his first choice forward line operating in tandem together for a prolonged period. Itâs a real shame because Liverpool are warming into this contest.
08:32pm Video
27 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Big problem for Ekitike who rolls his right ankle when he slips. PSG players run straight over and one holds his hand. Has he done his ankle ligaments? No heâs holding his achilles. Nothing worse for a footballer than an achilles tear. Letâs hope itâs only a strain or heâll be out for a very long time. Mohamed Salah is getting stripped.
Better spell from Liverpool by virtue of Mac Allister playing it to Gravenberch who made a surging run through the heart of midfield to thread an angled pass through to Isak on the left of the 18-yard line. He takes it through one-on-one with Safonov who gets down smartly to block and then the flag goes up to indicate Isak had mistimed his run. Bah! Good save, mind.
08:26pm
20 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Kvaratskhelia is caught in the mouth by Van Dijkâs arm but unmaliciously and without any grievous intent.
If we are going to fail, Jurgen Klopp observed before that remarkable night against Barcelona in May 2019, let us fail brilliantly. That attitude lit a fire in the Anfield crowd seven years ago and there are flickers of the spirit returning here. Itâs noisy, itâs frantic and the energy is high but there is a problem when considering the possibility of a comeback: Paris St Germain are a quite magnificent team and if Liverpool are going to put three unanswered goals past them itâs going to take something quite extraordinary - a level, arguably, that Arne Slotâs men havenât reached since they were crowned champions of England 354 days ago.
08:24pm
17 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
PSG up to 60 per cent possession but it actually feels more than that.
Twice Liverpool work the ball into good positions to cross. Ekitike sends Frimpong down the right but his cross flies over Isakâs mid-goal run. Kerkez races down the wing to collect but he then dumps his cross after beating Hakimi straight down Safonovâs throat.
Florian Wirtz in action with Paris St Germain's Desire Doue
PSG are sweeping the ball around and also popping off shirt passes, dominating possession to such an extent that the crowd resorts to whistles, partly out of panic. partly as a weapon to try to get them to stop.
08:10pm
6 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
First signs of positive intent from Liverpool with Frimpong and Wirtz combining down the right after the crispest of tackles by Kerkez. Wirtzâs cross is blocked behind for a corner. Isak gets his head on Szobiszlaiâs centre but canât do a great deal with it other than glance it into Safonovâs hands.
08:08pm
4 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
From the corner Kvaratskhelialets fly from about 22 yards and the ball crashes into Mamardashviliâs chest and he grabs it after it bounces back off the floor.
08:06pm
3 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
Kvaratskhelia bombs down the left and gets to the byline to work the ball back to the 18-yard line for Zaire-Emery whose shot is deflected over for a corner.
08:04pm
1 min: Liverpool 0 PSG 0 (0-2)
PSG kick off, attacking the Kop and, as is their wont, boot it straight out for a throw-in. Liverpool take it and work it beyond their strikers and Safonov launches it upfield.
Chants of âLiverpoolâ and whistles from the home fans are drowning out the Champions League anthem. Now there is another rendition of  Youâll Never Walk Alone. It is all set. Can Liverpool ride the emotioon with a fast start?
08:02pm
Anfield pays tribute to the victims of the Hillsborough Disaster
The 97 who died and the hundreds of others affected are commemorated on the 37th anniversary with an almost impeccably observed minuteâs silence. The pakyers are wearing black armbands.
07:59pm
The teams come out
Liverpool are in red, PSG in black. They line up for the Champions League anthem, which is roundly booed. Uefaâs shambolic handling of the 2022 Champions League final at Stade de France was unforgivable and hence unforgiven.
07:53pm
Amazon Prime retreats to the sidelines and silence
To allow the full rendition of Youâll Never Walk Alone.
07:52pm
Players on yellow cards and one away from a one-match ban
Liverpoolâs Van Dijk, Mac Allister, Jones and Gravenberch; PSGâs Nuno Mendes and Kvaratskhelia.
07:51pm
Anfield believes
We have seen it before with big European nights and big comebacks from Liverpool and, in fairness, the fans are doing their part by bringing the noise as the teams are read out and kick off approaches.
Andy Robertson roars
Andy Robertson believes too - Carl Recine/Getty Images
07:41pm
Attack! Attack! Attack, attack, attack!
It feels like both sides will go for goals. Liverpool need to score at least twice and there is a huge gamble by Arne Slot in starting Alexander Isak for the first time in four months after just two brief substitute appearances. It looks like, in a sign of the future, he is being paired with Hugo Ekitike, up front. For PSG there is definitely a sense that attack is the best form of defence for them and they are confident, as they were last season, that they will score at Anfield.
07:28pm
Here are Arne Slotâs pre-match thoughts
I already felt it when I came in [Anfield atmosphere] and will feel it even more when we go out for the game, which is needed because we need to be at our best and the fans to be at their best.
Ekitike, Wirtz and Isak have played only 88 minutes together [so far] and the thinking is as we all know we need to score goals. There are goals in these players. Two target men means two men we can play into and can score goals. As you might not know but I do know, Alex will not be able to play much more than 45 minutes. So if you have to bring him in with the possibility of extra-time, it makes sense to me to start him.
We need to do a few things really well but I donât think itâs about tactical things. If you want to have the ball a lot against them itâs never going to be easy so you have to match their intensity off the ball. And if you match that you have to be top in that because last week every time we tried to press them high they were unfortunately able to play through us.
Mohamed Salah again starts on the bench for Liverpool which, given the scale of this game and the need for goals, shows how far his star has fallen. Alexander Isak makes his first start since December 9 after recovering from his leg break. Rio Ngumoha is also among the substitutes.
06:52pm
PSG team news
Luis Enrique sends out the same starting XI but Barcola returns on the bench
Isak, Ekitike and Wirtz are the forward line: Salah on the bench.
06:45pm
Tomorrow marks the 37th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster
PSGâs players commemorated the 97 and all affected earlier:
06:41pm
From Arne Slotâs programme notes
As I said immediately after the first leg, PSG kept us alive so we have to use the lifeline that we have been given as well as we can. This means giving absolutely everything we can, coping with the pressure that we will inevitably have to deal with and being able to suffer in periods when necessary.
Most of all, it means performing in the Liverpool way â showing desire from first whistle to last, competing relentlessly and hopefully producing the kind of football that is required on occasions like this. We know the ingredients that are required, we just have to produce them and then see where it takes us.
06:14pm
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If the manner of Liverpoolâs defeat last week makes one think their chances of staging a comeback tonight are between slim and negligible, both clubsâ recent pasts offer signal results that make home seem more plausible if not exactly realistic. A certain Luis Enrique was in his last season in charge of Barcelona and on the brink of being sacked after a 4-0 defeat by PSG in the first leg of a round of 16 tie in 2017. They began well, going in 2-0 up at the break by virtue of a Luis SuĂĄrez goal and a Layvin Kurzawa og. Lionel Messi made it three from the spot but when Edinson Cavani pulled one back for the visitors, Barça needed three goals in 29 minutes plus stoppage time to go through. For 27 of them they were held 3-1, but then Neymar made it 4-1, equalised on aggregate from the spot in the first of five added-time minutes but were still on their way out on away goals. And then, with seconds left, Sergi Roberto, eviscerated on and off the field in Paris, latched on to a chip over the PSG defence and hooked in a volley to win 6-1.
Two years later Liverpoolâs Divock Origi-fired comeback, completed by a certain Trent Alexander-Arnoldâs astute and cute corner, turned a 3-0 defeat at Camp Nou to a 4-3 aggregate victory, eclipsing even the 3-1 victory over Saint-Etienne in the 1977 quarter-final or Steven Gerrardâs crucial 86th-minute third goal against Olympiacos in 2004-05 as Anfieldâs greatest roof-raising European Cup escapades. If it has been done, it can be done.
Yet PSG, so formidably slick last week are extraordinarily difficult to contain and Liverpool who went for a defensive system to try to stifle them lost their character and ability to support their forwards. It has to be different tonight, hence the clamour for the selection of Rio Ngumoha, after his outstanding performance against Fulham on Saturday. Yes, heâs 17 but has the intrepid and fearless approach youth allows and could thrive in the small pockets behind PSGâs majestic midfield. It could also be Mohamed Salahâs final Champions League match as a Liverpool player after 93 appearances in Europe and 53 goals. If this is to be the end, he will want to ensure he goes out on his shield.
Why was Liverpool knocked out of the Champions League?
Liverpool was knocked out of the Champions League due to their 17th loss of the season.
How many losses has Liverpool had this season?
Liverpool has recorded 17 losses in the current season.
What does Arne Slot's future look like at Liverpool after the Champions League exit?
Arne Slot's future at Liverpool is increasingly uncertain following the team's elimination from the Champions League.
Who did Liverpool lose to in the Champions League?
Liverpool lost to Paris St-Germain in the Champions League.
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