Paris Saint-Germain produced a historic turnaround to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals at Liverpool’s expense as they triumphed 4-1 on penalties after a 1-0 second leg win at Anfield.
By no means in Liverpool’s historical past had they misplaced a European tie after successful the primary leg away from house however Ousmane Dembele’s early strike introduced the French champions degree at 1-1 on mixture.
PSG had been then good with their 4 spot-kicks, whereas Gianluigi Donnarumma saved from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones.
Luis Enrique stated earlier than the sport that the winners would progress to the ultimate and PSG will probably be supremely assured of reaching the semi-finals at the least as they’ll face Aston Villa or Membership Brugge within the final eight.
“Each of the groups need to go to the following section,” stated PSG boss Luis Enrique.
“We had been higher in Paris they usually had been higher right here, however I feel my group at Anfield, in a particular stadium confirmed nice persona and character.”
A well-known victory for the Parisians was deserved over the tie after they dominated the primary leg solely to be denied by the brilliance of Alisson Becker within the Liverpool objective earlier than Harvey Elliott snatched a late winner.
The roles had been reversed this time as Liverpool had been made to rue not making extra of their possibilities.
“Over 90 minutes we did not need to lose in the present day, over 180 minutes perhaps it was deserved,” stated Liverpool boss Arne Slot.
“We ran out of luck after final week.”
Sensible play by Alexis Mac Allister ought to have created the opener on 4 minutes when the Argentine’s cross picked out Mohamed Salah, whose goalbound effort was deflected over by Nuno Mendes.
PSG took 10 minutes to experience out the storm from the house aspect earlier than discovering their ft.
The guests took the lead on 12 minutes when Ibrahima Konate may solely flip Bradley Barcola’s cross past Alisson to depart Dembele with a easy end.
The French worldwide has now scored 23 objectives in his final 17 video games and will have had extra earlier than the tip of the evening.
PSG who had the higher openings to increase their benefit earlier than half-time.
Twice Alisson needed to be at his sharpest to race off his line and save one-on-ones in opposition to Barcola and Dembele.
– Quansah hits inside publish –
PSG beat Liverpool to the signing of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in January and the Georgian proved a relentless menace to the Reds’ defence.
Kvaratskhelia’s shot from Dembele’s cross was arrowing in direction of the highest nook till a deflection from Ryan Gravenberch took it simply over the crossbar.
Improved second-half performances have been a typical theme of Slot’s first season at Liverpool and the hosts got here roaring out of the traps after the break.
Dominik Szoboszlai had a objective dominated out for offside in opposition to Luis Diaz earlier within the transfer.
Szoboszlai then had a goalbound effort blocked by Willian Pacho earlier than Donnarumma made an important cease from Diaz from the ensuing nook.
Liverpool’s momentum may have been halted by the lack of Trent Alexander-Arnold to a knee damage after the right-back landed awkwardly.
However his substitute, Jarell Quansah, was inches away from successful the tie when his header got here again off the within of the publish.
PSG barely threatened throughout the second half of the 90 minutes however Liverpool had been left hanging on for penalties in additional time.
Lucas Beraldo’s header and Want Doue’s shot flew simply huge earlier than extra Alisson heroics saved PSG at bay with a shocking cease to show Dembele’s curling effort around the publish.
Nonetheless, Alisson couldn’t save them within the shootout because it was the opposite goalkeeper who was the hero.
Donnarumma produced nice saves to disclaim Nunez and Jones, both aspect of 4 assured strikes from Vitinha, Goncalo Ramos, Dembele and Doue to ship PSG into the final eight.
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