Arne Slot's Liverpool were dumped out of the Champions League on penalties at Anfield as Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones fluffed their lines from the spot on Tuesday
23:08, 11 Mar 2025Updated 23:11, 11 Mar 2025
Darwin Nunez of Liverpool looks dejected after missing the teams second penalty
Darwin Nunez missed a penalty as Liverpool were dumped out of the Champions League(Image: Getty Images)
Another dramatic night of European football at Anfield. Not one for Liverpool to remember this time though.
They played their part in a Champions League classic but it was PSG who progressed with a win on penalties after an epic encounter. For the first time ever Liverpool have been dumped out of Europe after winning the first leg away from home.
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Gianluigi Donnarumma saved from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones in the shootout. More penalty heroics from him on these shores after the Italy keeper helped stop England in the Euro 2020 final.
PSG have put their names forward to be proper contenders for the Champions League this season as they got past the champions elect in England.
They are a proper team who can go all the way if they perform like this again. They’re desperate to win a first European Cup and Luis Enrique has built a team capable of doing so. The French giants will face Aston Villa or Club Brugge in the quarter-finals.
Liverpool defender Alexander-Arnold receives treatment before having to go off against PSG
Liverpool defender Alexander-Arnold receives treatment before having to go off against PSG
Liverpool will win a 20th league title in May but they will have to wait for a seventh European Cup.
What might be a more immediate concern is the injuries to Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate just days before a Carabao Cup final against Newcastle.
Of course, 120 minutes in the legs won’t help either before they head to Wembley on Sunday. The hope of a treble gone.
This was a proper knockout tie in Europe. What the Champions League is all about. It was electric at times and nervy at others. When Ousmane Dembele scored for PSG after 12 minutes to level the tie it set up the drama. Vitinha, Goncalo Ramos, Dembele and Desire Doue scored for PSG from the spot to put the visitors through.
After being dominated in the first leg before snatching a winner, Liverpool started on top here. Only a superb block from Nuno Mendes denied Mo Salah an early goal.
Then PSG hit the hosts on the counter with class. Nuno Mendes’ superb pass got the PSG side out and he found Dembele. His pass wide to Bradley Barcola was returned in the box and Konate appeared to take it off Alisson Becker and that allowed Dembele to tap in.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot gestures on the touchline
Arne Slot's Liverpool are out of the Champions League(Image: PA)
The Brazilian had made nine big saves in Paris to deny PSG but after 12 minutes here he was beaten as Harvey Elliott’s late strike in a smash and grab in the first leg was cancelled out.
Liverpool responded and would dominate for large parts but PSG were always dangerous.
Barcola was then put in by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia but Alisson denied him while Dembele’s touch let him down when he was through on goal later in the half.
Liverpool started the second half on top and must have thought they’d find a leveller on the night and a goal to win the tie.
Darwin Nunez of Liverpool sees his penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma
Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two Liverpool penalties(Image: Getty Images)
Luis Diaz tested Donnarumma with a header from a corner but the PSG keeper pushed it away well.
The battle between Mendes and Salah was a brilliant sub plot to the rest of the drama.
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While Jarell Quansah headed wide seconds after coming on for the injured Alexander-Arnold and then hit the post with a header soon after as he went agonisingly close to being the hero.
Doue was superb for PSG when he came on and troubled Liverpool as the Reds tired but it took penalties to separate them.