PSG ended Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League run after a dramatic penalty shootout win at Anfield.
Ousmane Dembele brought the tie level to 1-1 after the France international capitalised on a poor clearance from Ibrahima Konate, with the winger slotting the ball into an open net to get PSG back into the tie and eventually set them on their way to victory.
With Trent Alexander-Arnold coming off injured for Liverpool, the Reds lost more than just their chance of winning a seventh European title, with Arne Slot now potentially without one of his most important players heading into the League Cup final on Sunday.
And Liverpool’s annoyance didn’t stop there, with PSG defender Achraf Hakimi managing to frustrate supporters in the Kop end after the penalty shootout.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Achraf Hakimi annoys Liverpool fans after celebrating with PSG flag
As reported by Paul Grost, the Morocco international managed to rile up Liverpool fans by waving around a PSG flag, with the journalist writing: “Loud boos for Achraf Hakimi who unfurls a big PSG banner in the centre circle. ‘Where’s your European Cup?!’ ask the Kop.”
With Luis Diaz criticised for his Liverpool performance, it was a real night to forget for the Reds and a game that Slot will want to forget, with this weekend’s League Cup final against Newcastle the perfect match for the Anfield side to get a result.
Indeed, Hakimi’s antics will make the PSG defender a villain with Liverpool supporters, a factor that could come into play in upcoming seasons if the Ligue 1 giants end up facing the Reds once again in the Champions League.
Yet given how good PSG were over the two legs and how disappointing Liverpool’s response was in the end at Anfield, supporters and players will be devastated about how this evening’s fixture unfolded, with the Champions League there for the taking for the Reds this season.
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Where do Liverpool go after early Champions League exit
It feels like only yesterday when Steve Nicol was drumming up Liverpool’s hopes of winning the quadruple, a trap the Reds fell into last year as Jurgen Klopp could only manage the League Cup despite being in contention for four titles.
Yet this season under Slot is different for Liverpool, with the League Cup final on the horizon with the Merseyside giants already having one hand on the Premier League title with ten games left to go.
Even though an early exit from the Champions League was not in the script, Slot and Liverpool will learn from these games against PSG, which heading into next season will better prepare the Reds for a shot at winning a seventh European title.