Ian Doyle with the main talking point from Liverpool's Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield on Tuesday evening
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 14: Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool reacts after Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain scores their first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg match between Liverpool FC and Paris Saint-Germain FC at Anfield on April 14, 2026 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Liverpool players look dejected after Ousmane Dembele fires Paris Saint-Germain ahead in their 2-0 Champions League quarter-final second-leg success at rain-sodden Anfield(Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
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It was a moment that perhaps summed up Liverpool’s season. With the Reds having knocked loudly on the Paris Saint-Germain door during a stirringly one-sided second half, the visitors were given a rare breather on 72 minutes when substitute Bradley Barcola found space down the left wing to run at Dominik Szoboszlai.
A ball inside found Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who fed Ousmane Dembele, the forward then turning away from Alexis Mac Allister and thumping in an effort from the edge of the area beyond Giorgi Mamardashvili.
It was PSG’s first shot of any note after the interval and, at a stroke, deflated a buoyant Anfield atmosphere save those that had made the trip across the Channel.
That Szoboszlai was once again at right-back highlighted both a poor performance from Jeremie Frimpong and what appeared an injury for his half-time replacement Joe Gomez midway through the second half.
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Plus ca change. Liverpool, as has maddeningly been the case far too many times this campaign, had failed to capitalise on good possession – at the time of the goal, they’d had more than 70% in the second half – and a host of decent openings, only to then concede when on top.
The Reds ended the game with a greater share of the ball than PSG – a stark contrast to last week – and had almost double the amount of shots at 21 to 12.
Tellingly, though, the visitors managed to put half on target, one more than Liverpool.
By the time Dembele tucked away a second in the first minute of injury-time, the home supporters had already started filing for the exit.
There was, though, no sense of disgruntlement similar to the early departure from the FA Cup shellacking at Manchester City 10 days earlier.
Those that remained recognised this was a Reds performance that lacked nothing in character and determination and, in the end, merited the encouraging chants and applause after the final whistle.
Of course, all this must be seen through the prism of PSG going into the game defending a two-goal lead. The tie wasn’t lost here, instead Liverpool’s ultimately dismal showing at the Parc des Princes did for Arne Slot’s side.
And the reality is, for all the effort put in, the Reds, as when facing PSG last season, were lacking in quality in a manner in which they have been at key points of this hugely disappointing campaign.
A 17th defeat of this term, this wasn’t one with which Liverpool could be overly criticised. But too much of it hinted at why the end cannot come soon enough.