Liverpool face uphill Anfield battle after PSG secure huge Champions League advantage

Callum Vurley
Wed, 08 Apr 2026 21:20:42 +0000

Liverpool's Champions League aspirations suffered a significant blow on Wednesday evening as they fell 2-0 to defending European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the quarter-final first leg at the Parc des Princes.

The defeat marks the Merseyside club's 16th loss of what has become an increasingly troubled campaign under Arne Slot.

Goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia secured victory for Luis Enrique's Ligue 1 leaders in a thoroughly one-sided encounter.

The result also extended a worrying run for the Reds, who have now lost four consecutive matches away from home for the first time since April 2012.

The hosts took the lead after just 11 minutes when Doue's effort from inside the box deflected wickedly off Virgil van Dijk, looping over goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and into the net.

The 20-year-old's strike set the tone for what would prove a thoroughly dominant display from the French side.

PSG extended their advantage through Kvaratskhelia, who produced a moment of genuine quality to double the lead.

The Georgian winger latched onto a superb defence-splitting pass from Joao Neves before rounding Mamardashvili and finishing with aplomb.

Liverpool's backline, deployed in a five-man formation following their recent 4-0 thrashing by Manchester City, was repeatedly exposed throughout.

The Reds managed just three attempts throughout the entire match, with none troubling PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

It was the first occasion Liverpool had failed to register a single shot on target in Champions League competition since their encounter with Atalanta in November 2020.

Mamardashvili, deputising for the injured Alisson, prevented what could have been a far more humiliating scoreline.

The Georgian stopper produced excellent saves to deny his compatriot Kvaratskhelia, Doue and Ousmane Dembele, while Achraf Hakimi was also thwarted.

Dembele squandered three gilt-edged opportunities, including striking the woodwork late on following a Jeremie Frimpong error.

Van Dijk offered a candid assessment following the final whistle, acknowledging the scale of the challenge ahead.

"Obviously, I am not happy losing a game. The only positive is that we have another game to play next week," the Dutch captain said.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with incredible composure and PSG lead Liverpool 2-0 🔥

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"That was tough."

The defender conceded that Liverpool had failed to capitalise on transitional moments during the contest.

"We had some small moments on the break where we could have done better," Van Dijk added.

"We had some opportunities on the counter. We can be better with our possession at Anfield."

The second leg takes place at Anfield next Tuesday.