Liverpool have a mountain to climb after a tame evening saw PSG dominate throughout and notch a tidy 2-0 lead to take to Anfield. Here we rate every player.
PSG 2-0 Liverpool
Champions League Quarter-Final First Leg | Parc Des Princes
April 8, 2026
Goals: Doue 11′, Kvaratskhelia 65′
Giorgi Mamardashvili – 6 (out of 10)
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili looks dejected after conceding the first goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Very unfortunate to concede Desire Doue’s heavily deflected, fizzing effort. Made amends to deny Doue a second from point-blank range, while also expertly denying his countryman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with solid wrists.
This lad is a serious shot-stopper who has been dealt a really unfortunate hand, coming into this Liverpool team in the current uncertain state that they are.
Jeremie Frimpong – 4
Only came into the match in phases, but constantly offered the run beyond the last man.
Failed to connect with Gravenberch, but struck up some nice one-twos with Florian Wirtz, who almost put an opportunity on a plate for him – but for the linesman’s flag.
Reverted back to defence once the mass of subs emerged, and was compact enough albeit underwhelming.
Ibrahima Konate – 4
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's Ibrahima Konate reacts to conceding the second goal during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Repeatedly found himself having to make the decision he absolutely did not want to – whether or not to drop deep to combat PSG’s rapidly turning over midfield.
Back in his homeland, Konate was brave and clearly keen to put on a show of effort, but many repeated wrong decisions.
Warren Zaire-Emery and Vitinha quickly worked out his tendency to get dragged out of position again and again, with Konate finding himself on the back foot from the early stages onwards.
Fortunate on the penalty decision in the second half, but VAR ultimately made the right call – a textbook last-ditch challenge to deny a certain goal.
Desperately geed up the travelling Kop in the aftermath, will need to bring these same passion levels to the Anfield return leg.
Virgil van Dijk – 5
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Was clearly a focus point of any and every Liverpool long-ball set-piece, but enjoyed little success.
Ran the line the best he could, but this was far from an in-the-trenches performance from the skipper.
Didn’t commit any errors of note but is looking more weary as the weeks go by, a player who is now doing more complaining than front-foot defending.
Joe Gomez – 4
Started well but quickly became far too frequent in giving the ball away. Frustration mounted and resulted in an early yellow card, which hardly helped to settle the nerves.
Grew in confidence thereafter and put it two stellar last-man challenges on Achraf Hakimi, despite the booking hanging over his head.
Milos Kerkez – 5
Provided the energy Liverpool very much needed on the flank, but was targeted often by the hosts. Caught snoozing when Hakimi blitzed past him, only to be bailed out by Gomez.
Brought plenty of effort to the table but lacked refinement and experience.
Ryan Gravenberch – 4
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's Ryan Gravenberch during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
A mixed offering, seeing lots of the ball in the opening 45 but never doing anything much with it.
Ran well when breaking through the lines on occasion, but far too often played the release pass behind Jeremie Frimpong rather than into his path. The potential moves were always immediately stunted as a result.
Caught napping for Kvaratskhelia’s goal, playing a big part in the winger strolling through with ease. Clearly dented his confidence.
Alexis Mac Allister – 5
Brought heart to his performance and threw himself around like a man with a bruised ego. It was heartening to see, but it cannot be said that Mac Allister’s efforts bore fruit.
PSG’s frenetic midfield left him exasperated, with a desperate and entirely pointless lunge on Doue summing up the state of affairs.
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister and Virgil van Dijk (R) appeal to referee José Sánchez (L) during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The most obvious yellow card he’s ever going to receive.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 5
Needed to make a big impression here given his recent bizarre gestures to the remaining fans at the Etihad last weekend.
Provided his usual work-rate but consistently came out second best against Zaire-Emery, a player some five years his junior. Not the best look.
Florian Wirtz – 3
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's Florian Wirtz during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Largely nullified in the opening stages and carefully marked under Luis Enrique’s orders, but showed his class with a delicate looped chip over the back line for Frimpong.
Enjoyed more possession in the second half but couldn’t conjure any magic with it, meaning his withdrawal felt imminent.
Needs to give so much more in these big games.
Hugo Ekitike – 3
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Anonymous in the first half, as Liverpool struggled to stamp their authority on any attacking pockets of space.
Became brighter in patches and showed good footwork, but a very ego-driven poor decisions didn’t serve him well.
Leant way back and tried to pick out the top corner early in the second half, ballooning the ball rather than finding the more opportune run of Kerkez.
Overall Team Performance – 4
Substitutes
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's (L-R) Hugo Ekitike is substituted off as Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak and Curtis Jones wait to come on during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Andy Robertson (on for Kerkez, 78′) – 5 – Would’ve probably benefited more from starting this game and working himself into the action. Was a bit deep-ended coming in late against PSG’s electric pace.
Alexander Isak (on for Wirtz, 78′) – 5 – Not the return he wanted, hardly saw the ball.
Cody Gakpo (on for Ekitike, 78′) – 5 – Isolated up front as Liverpool spent the latter stages constantly defending.
Curtis Jones (on for Szoboszlai, 78′) – 5 – Slotted into the midfield and added a bit of presence.
Trey Nyoni (on for Frimpong, 90′) – N/A
Subs not used: Woodman, Misciur, Chiesa, Salah, Ngumoha
Arne Slot – 3
PARIS, FRANCE - Wednesday, April 8, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot during the UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg match between Paris Saint-Germain FC and Liverpool FC at the Parc des Princes. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The manager went bold with dropping Mo Salah and deserves credit for it, regardless of the scoreline. Salah had a horror afternoon at the Etihad, and unfortunately no player is immune from being dropped.
Whether he should have been brought on though is another question, and one we will never know the answer to.
Regardless, Slot has spoken at length about the matches against PSG last season which he perceived as classics, but this was far from that.
Tried something different with a switch to a three-man defence and the lack of training time showed with his side all over the place from the off.
Liverpool held firm enough to just about prevent the floodgates opening, but did not once look capable of winning this fixture in the French capital.
Not a single shot on target. A huge uphill battle at Anfield now awaits, and few if any are backing the Reds in this form.