It was a Champions League match to remember, a truly intense battle between two top European teams. For over three hours, neither Liverpool nor Paris Saint-Germain could secure a decisive advantage, leading to a dramatic penalty shootout.
Ultimately, it was misses from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones that proved costly, as Liverpool, who were considered strong contenders, were eliminated from the competition. Despite the defeat, this game showed that Liverpool is a team capable of winning the Champions League. Small margins, like a slightly taller goalkeeper for PSG or a slightly different shot from Nunez, could have changed the outcome.
Over the course of the two-leg tie, PSG emerged victorious, arguably deserving the win. Their performance in the first leg was impressive, and even in the final stages of the second leg, they appeared more energetic and likely to score. While penalties decided the match, Liverpool can still consider themselves unlucky to have faced such a strong opponent so early in the knockout stage.
Liverpool might have had some luck in the first leg, but their world-class goalkeeper Alisson Becker has been crucial for years, consistently denying opponents. While PSG’s expected goals (xG) might suggest dominance in the second leg, easy misses, like Ousmane Dembele’s close-range opportunity, can inflate these stats.
Liverpool created numerous chances, starting with a near miss from Mohamed Salah and culminating in Gianluigi Donnarumma’s saves that set the stage for the penalty shootout drama.
Liverpool’s manager, Arne Slot, commented, “After 90 minutes, we clearly deserved more than a 1-0 deficit. We played a perfect game but couldn’t score.”
Slot will need to analyze the team’s performance over both legs, and the task ahead might be more challenging than some expect. Against most other teams in the round of 16, Liverpool likely would have progressed, even with some early struggles in the tie. Only a top-tier team like PSG could defeat them. Perhaps PSG are indeed among the very best.
Despite never trailing in the tie until the shootout, Slot had to be the more adaptable coach. In the first half of the first leg, Liverpool struggled against PSG’s attack. However, Slot made crucial adjustments, limiting PSG’s clear chances in the penalty area. Alisson still made impressive saves, totaling more saves in this tie than Arsenal’s David Raya has made in the entire 2024-25 Champions League season, mainly from long-range shots.
Liverpool adopted a more cautious approach at Anfield, a testament to Slot’s tactical flexibility in his first major European test as Liverpool manager. In the first half especially, Liverpool resembled Jurgen Klopp’s team more than they had in recent times.
Their intense pressing game dominated the first 10 minutes, preventing PSG’s Dembele and Barcola from gaining possession. Liverpool’s pressure forced PSG back, creating frequent turnovers. Liverpool appeared physically stronger and more dynamic.
This aggressive approach involved risks, something Klopp might be more comfortable with than Slot initially seemed. Liverpool’s focus on winning possession left space in front of their defense. Dembele exploited this, setting up Barcola and creating a chance that led to PSG’s goal when Konate had to intervene.
Liverpool wasn’t significantly disrupted by PSG’s equalizer. They continued to challenge PSG’s high defensive line. As the game progressed, Liverpool reduced their intensity but maintained control. A close offside call against Jota and a series of chances created by Alexander-Arnold, culminating in Szoboszlai’s shot and further saves from Pacho, could have turned the tide for Liverpool.
After 120 tiring minutes, the defeat raises concerns about its impact on Sunday’s game. While neutrals enjoyed the thrilling match, Newcastle fans might have welcomed the extra drama. Slot faces a challenge to prepare his players both physically and mentally for the EFL Cup final on Sunday. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s injury adds to the worries, and Konate and others will likely feel the effects of Tuesday’s match.
If this week marks the end of Liverpool’s treble hopes, reducing it to just the league title, it will be seen as a missed opportunity, considering their Premier League dominance. However, this would be unfair to Slot, who demonstrated his ability to adapt in a high-level European match. On another day, the result could have favored Liverpool. This was a clash of titans, worthy of the highest stages of the competition, and it is unfortunate we won’t see these teams play again in this Champions League.
