The stark reality facing Liverpool after PSG cause Champions League deja vu

Déjà vu all over again for Liverpool, eliminated by the French champions for a second successive season, but this this time without the drama of penalties or the sense of what might have been. A Paris rematch brought the same scoreline as last week, another 2-0 win. Ousmane Dembele, who got an Anfield winner last season, added a brace. Compared to last year, the margin of victory was bigger as Paris Saint-Germain secured a semi-final against Real Madrid or, more probably, Bayern Munich. This trophy may remain in their grasp for another year.

Liverpool can reflect on the damage done in Paris last week though the broader conclusion might be that, after £450m of spending, they have slipped further away from the European elite. They finished third in the league phase this year but they have rarely looked plausible winners of the competition. PSG, 11th in a large league table, are in the last four, their blend of defiant defending, electric attacking and midfield finesse looking them a class apart from the English champions.

Ousmane Dembele haunted Liverpool at Anfield once again (AP)

It helps to have a Ballon d’Or winner and Dembele, previously profligate in each leg, then provided a clinical finish from 20 yards, before slotting in an injury-time second after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola combined to set him up. A night when Liverpool hoped to make a statement with their own deluxe attackers instead brought anti-climax and injury. Alexander Isak was a surprise starter but the £125m man lasted 45 largely ineffectual minutes. Hugo Ekitike was shunted out to the right wing to accommodate the record buy but stretchered off; the fears must be that his campaign is curtailed. Mohamed Salah was dropped with Ekitike used in his spot. His stellar Champions League career with Liverpool ended as a substitute, albeit one who never gave up.

Neither did his side. Arne Slot had said it would take something very, very special. Liverpool tried, lacking nothing in perspiration, but offering too little inspiration. The was rarely the sense they would stage an epic comeback as Paris Saint-Germain defended superbly. Marquinhos made a magnificent tackle to deny Virgil van Dijk a tap-in. The PSG captain celebrated it like a goal, and well he might.

The only moment when it seemed PSG had erred at the back came with the semblance that spot-kicks may again be decisive. Alexis Mac Allister went down under Willian Pacho’s challenge. Referee Maurizio Mariani first gave the penalty, then reviewed the incident and reversed his challenge. A few minutes later, PSG struck, getting the goal their counter-attacking menace had long threatened.

Liverpool had a second-half penalty ruled out (PA)

Slot had traded his back five in Paris for a four, his low block for a high defensive line. PSG had looked to exploit it. Dembele tried to lob Giorgi Mamardashvili, with the backtracking goalkeeper punching it away. The Frenchman hooked a volley on the turn over the bar.

But he delivered the crucial contribution, the one Liverpool no doubt hoped their statement signing would produce. Isak was parachuted in for a first start of 2026, after just 36 minutes in two cameos. He delivered Liverpool’s belated first effort on target in the tie, six minutes into the second leg, but headed straight at Matvey Safonov. When Isak got in behind the PSG defence, he was offside. He was never going to complete the game and he did not return for the second half. This, it felt, was his Liverpool career in a nutshell: big price, small impact.

The other problem for Liverpool was that Ekitike had already gone off, with a suspected achilles problem after slipping. This has proved an unhappy reunion with PSG for the Frenchman. Enter Salah, his declining status summed up by the fact he started neither leg.

Mohamed Salah’s declining status was summed up by him not starting either leg (Getty)

Anfield was raucous at the start, hoping against hope this would be like Barcelona in 2019. Liverpool made a high-speed start. Yet turning attacking intent into chances proved difficult. Liverpool applied most pressure just after the interval. Cody Gakpo drew a save from Safonov. His fellow Dutchman Ryan Gravenberch drove a shot wide. Milos Kerkez directed a half-volley wide after a wonderful pass from Salah. Safonov, a spectator in the first leg, saved a sharp shot from Rio Ngumoha. Liverpool were livelier with Gakpo than Isak, Salah than Ekitike. Perhaps that was a sign the starting 11 was wrong.

Luis Enrique’s was the same as last week, and they prevailed. They benefited from the class of Vitinha, darting around the midfield with touch and purpose. The cost to PSG came in the loss of the injured pair of Nuno Mendes and Desire Doue, though it mattered not on the evening.

And for Liverpool, this was not a great European night. Meteorologically, it was a horrible one, amid the wind and rain. Having won in the heat of Paris last week, the visitors weathered the storm. And now, like Liverpool in 1978, they could become part of the select group to retain the European Cup.