Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League campaign came to an end on Wednesday night, in their round-of-16 second leg against Paris Saint-Germain.
A gruelling contest went the distance and needed penalties to separate two fantastic sides.
Ousmane Dembélé gave the Parisiens a surprise lead in the twelfth minute, levelling the aggregate score at 1-1, before an improved second half from Liverpool proved not enough, ultimately falling to a 4-1 penalty shootout defeat that followed an average extra-time showing.
PSG were by far the best side that Liverpool had played all season long and there is no shame in losing to a team of that quality, but it happened in the cruelest way possible.
We will be discussing the events that occurred at Anfield, whilst also looking ahead to Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final and the Premier League picture.
Liverpool’s forward options, with the exception of Mohamed Salah, came into question once again having failed to score in one hundred and twenty minutes of football, despite a first-leg lead.
AN IMPROVEMENT BUT NOT ENOUGH
The first-leg performance was vastly improved on, with the Reds’ coming out with a point to prove after bold comments from Paris Saint-Germain staff and players were made in the lead up to the clash, including French newspaper outlet, L’Equipe taking a subtle swipe on the day of the game.
In the first quarter of an hour, Liverpool were able to find their rhythm quickly and tested their opposition, with Salah’s blocked attempt from close range the best on offer, until Ousmane Dembélé silenced the raucous Anfield crowd.
PA Images/Icon Sport.
From that moment on through to half-time, it looked as if the stuffing had been taken out of the players and a sense of early panic creeped in, knowing they had to score to go ahead once more in the tie.
Despite the creation of multiple chances, the play seemed very lethargic and rushed in the final third without any real composure.
Although, Arne Slot’s half-time team talk seemed to knock the performance up a few extra gears in the second half.
The Liverpool players seemed sharper, and even led to an early equalising goal through Dominik Szoboszlai, but the offside flag was quickly raised, bringing a halt to the celebrations.
The kitchen sink was thrown at PSG for the second forty-five, but the Parisiens continued to put bodies on the line, whilst goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma played a blinder.
Luis Díaz and Jarell Quansah had the best chances fwith the Colombian forcing Donnarumma to scramble his header away from the corner, whilst Quansah’s effort crashed against the inside of the post and rolled across the goal-line, to which PSG somehow survived.
FATIGUE PLAYED A HUGE FACTOR
Liverpool looked dead on their feet at the end of the ninety minutes, leading to Paris Saint-Germain gaining a huge momentum shift in extra time.
Curtis Jones replaced Alexis Mac Allister before the restart and Luis Díaz, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ibrahima Konaté were lacking in legs after pulsating efforts over the course of the match.
PSG saw that the Liverpool players were tiring and seemed in desperate search of a second goal, with Kang-in Lee and Desire Doue both firing inches wide, including Khvicha Kvaratshelia’s strike almost heading for the far top corner.
But, the Parisiens were a lot more fresher than the Reds due to the lesser intensiity of Ligue 1 compared to the Premier League, allowing Luis Enrique to rest eight starters on the weekend.
When penalties finally arrived, Liverpool had already lost three guaranteed takers in Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and Trent Alexander-Arnold, meaning Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones were very likely brought forward in the penalty order.
Arne Slot consoles Darwin Núñez after penalty miss. Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images.
This tie was ultimately a tale of two goalkeepers.
Last week it was Alisson Becker, this week, Gianluigi Donnarumma was the one who had the headlines. The Italian was a brick wall throughout the match, as well as back-to-back saves in the shootout.
Fortunately for Liverpool, Alisson was not needed as much during the ninety minutes this time, but could not save any of Paris-Saint Germain’s four penalties.
A hugely frustrating night all round for the Reds with the hunt for European Cup number seven over for this season at least, including any hopes of a potential treble.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
The Reds’ exit from the UEFA Champions League may still be fresh, but the bigger picture is what matters more right now.
Liverpool have a Carabao Cup Final date at Wembley Stadium with Newcastle United on the weekend and a chance for Arne Slot’s first of just two trophies now on offer.
His side are also cruising in the Premier League title race, due to Arsenal failing to win any of their last three matches. This means that the Reds now hold a fifteen-point lead over their closest challengers and are set to win the league at a canter.
The current Premier League top five with Liverpool leading the way. Google.
Ten games remain of Liverpool’s season and of nine league fixtures, just sixteen points (5W, 1D) will mathematically secure the title on eighty-six points, but with Arsenal starting to fall, it could be even earlier than scheduled.
As for Sunday’s cup final, Arne Slot and co. must not let their European exit disrupt the plan to win a first trophy under the new regime, with this game now baring extra importance.
Newcastle will also be heading to Wembley aiming to end a seventy-year trophy drought, with both sides expected to leave everything on the line.
Bowing out of any competition is never a good feeling but with two trophies remaining on the table, the best is still yet to come.
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