Many of the memorable European nights at Anfield seem to be irresistibly linked to Liverpool’s triumphs, as if Bill Shankly’s famous remark about the Kop’s ability to draw the ball into the net invariably rings true whenever the European Cup and the Champions League arrive at the Mersey’s shores.
The Luis Garcia “ghost goal” against Chelsea in 2005, Steven Gerrard’s strike against Olympiakos earlier that year, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quick corner followed by Divock Origi’s goal against Barcelona in 2019, and even David Fairclough’s effort against St Etienne in 1977—all are interwoven into the fabric of the club’s history.
This occasion felt different. It was yet another thrilling night of football, an intense and relentless match played in a charged, urgent atmosphere that felt like a classic. Usually, nights like this culminate in a Liverpool victory. Liverpool battled fiercely, but on this occasion, PSG proved to be too strong.
Alisson had rescued Liverpool in the Parc des Princes last Wednesday, where a series of brilliant saves kept his side in contention and allowed them to snatch a late winner. However, he couldn’t save them this Wednesday. It was another goalkeeper who emerged as the hero.
During the penalty shootout, Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two Liverpool attempts, while Alisson couldn’t get near any of PSG’s.
The shootout unfolded as follows: Vitinha scored, Mo Salah found the net, Goncalo Ramos—who came on just before extra-time—scored, Darwin Nunez’s shot was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, Ousmane Dembele scored, Curtis Jones’ attempt was also saved by Donnarumma, and Desire Doue scored. And that was that.
PSG triumphed 4-1 on penalties, advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals.
It was a dramatic conclusion to a stunning last-16 clash between two European titans.
This marked the first instance of Liverpool being eliminated at Anfield after winning the first leg of a European tie, and it was also the first occasion a French club won a knockout match here.
Moreover, it was the first time Liverpool lost a penalty shootout in this tournament. They overcame Roma in the 1984 European Cup Final, AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League Final, and Chelsea on penalties in the 2007 semi-finals. They couldn’t replicate that success here.
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It was a dramatic ending to a breathtaking last-16 tie between two European heavyweights
Liverpool struggled in the first half but controlled the second half, with both teams exhausting themselves. They will need to regroup for the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, but Newcastle United, their opponents at Wembley, will have noted Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate limping off and may feel hopeful.
Both teams maintained the same starting line-ups from last Wednesday’s encounter, but it initially appeared that this match would play out differently. In the early moments, PSG did not dominate as expected. Liverpool aggressively challenged every ball and pressed their opponents as if everything hinged on it from the first whistle.
They nearly took the lead in the fourth minute. Dominik Szoboszlai made a brilliant run down the left channel to find Alexis Mac Allister. Mac Allister squared the ball to Mo Salah, who seemed destined to score, but his goalbound shot was deflected over the bar by a fantastic intervention from Nuno Mendes.
Liverpool applied all the pressure in the opening ten minutes. PSG struggled to cope. Liverpool’s relentless pressing forced PSG into misplaced passes and hurried clearances. Salah had another opportunity but curled his shot just wide.
Then, PSG scored, and everything shifted. Dembele received a pass from Nuno Mendes in space and charged towards the Liverpool defense. He passed inside the full-back to Bradley Barcola, who delivered a cross into the six-yard box.
Chaos ensued. Ibrahima Konate stretched to intercept, inadvertently wrong-footing Alisson, causing the ball to slowly roll toward the goal. Dembele leapt over both and nudged it into the vacant net.
PSG’s staff erupted from their bench, and their fans in the Anfield Road end, where the goal was scored, celebrated wildly. Moments later, they nearly doubled their lead.
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Alexander-Arnold was dispossessed near halfway, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia played a delightful ball through Liverpool’s defense to set Barcola free on goal, but Barcola’s shot was weak, allowing Alisson to gather it easily.
Liverpool controlled possession, yet PSG squandered another golden opportunity after half an hour. Mac Allister was caught in possession, and Dembele sprinted through on goal.
However, his second touch was too heavy, enabling Alisson to reach the ball first and secure it. Liverpool recognized their good fortune.
Another scare followed. Dembele broke free down the right and cut back for Kvaratskhelia, who had time to aim. His shot was heading for the net when it deflected off Virgil van Dijk’s knee and sailed just over the bar.
Liverpool appeared bewildered, unable to halt PSG’s advances through their midfield. As the PSG fans bounced behind the goal, Dembele cut in from the right, and his left-footed shot deflected off Mac Allister, arcing over Alisson but just wide of the post.
Liverpool believed they had leveled nine minutes into the second half when a frantic sequence saw Gianluigi Donnarumma parry a fierce shot from Alexander-Arnold, who then hit the post with the follow-up before squaring for Szoboszlai to score. But Luis Diaz had been offside at the start of the move.
Liverpool responded. The crowd felt rejuvenated. Diaz leapt at the near post to glance a header down towards goal.
As Liverpool fans rose to celebrate, Donnarumma hurled himself across the goal, managing to claw the ball away just in time.
Diaz had another chance when Salah, finally coming alive, set him up perfectly, but he hesitated and the opportunity vanished.
PSG defended fiercely. Salah volleyed goalward after a corner was flicked to him, but Kvaratskhelia, surprisingly, cleared it off the line.
There was a brief lull in the action when Alexander-Arnold tackled Vitinha and seemed to catch his studs in the turf.
His knee bent awkwardly, indicating immediate trouble, leading to his substitution for Jarell Quansah.
Darwin Nunez replaced Diogo Jota simultaneously, and Liverpool continued their relentless assault on the PSG goal.
Quansah headed against the inside of the post from a Robertson free kick, but another offside flag was raised. PSG posed little threat, but Anfield sensed the tie remained finely balanced.
In response, PSG had a late chance. The ball reached Kvaratskhelia in the left penalty area. He steadied himself and unleashed a curling shot over Alisson’s reaching dive but just too high. Extra time loomed.
PSG started stronger in extra time. Nuno Mendes headed narrowly wide, and substitute Desire Doue curled a speculative shot just past Alisson’s right post.
After the interval, Alisson conjured memories from last week, diving low to his right to deflect a shot from Dembele around the post. Dembele looked away in disbelief.
Neither side could break the deadlock thereafter, setting the stage for the shootout.
