Ousmane Dembele was PSG's matchwinner at Anfield for the second successive season but was open in his praise for Liverpool and the challenge they pose on their own patch
Ousmane Dembele bagged a brace as PSG beat Liverpool at Anfield
Ousmane Dembele bagged a brace as PSG beat Liverpool at Anfield(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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PSG star Ousmane Dembele concedes that Anfield is "a difficult stadium" and Liverpool "made them work" before they got the better of them to make the Champions League semi-finals.
The Reds were always underdogs going into their last-eight tie and their task was made even harder when they lost 2-0 at the Parc des Princes last week. PSG were dominant but only winning by two goals meant that Liverpool still had a fighting chance back on Merseyside.
Anfield has been the scene of some iconic European nights, but PSG were able to navigate their way through the atmosphere as they secured another 2-0 success. Liverpool themselves saw a penalty decision reversed by VAR, which could've seen them set up a grandstand finish.
Dembele would score twice in the second-half to round out a 4-0 aggregate success, but knows that Liverpool at Anfield were never going to be an easy opponent, despite their struggles this season.
He told CBS Sports: "The first match and the second match are always different, and in a stadium like that, it’s always difficult. We came here to take the win, that was our mentality, and the most important thing is we got through. It’s a stadium that is a difficult stadium and it's a difficult team. They made us work for it. But we’re happy that we were able to take this match-up.”
The Frenchman was on hand to score last season when PSG downed Liverpool at Anfield. On that occasion the French side were underdogs, but won 1-0 on the night to level the tie, before winning on penalties.
The Parisians would go on to win the Champions League - seeing off English opposition in the last 16, the quarter-finals and the semi-finals. Luis Enrique is seeking to become just the second manager to go back-to-back in the Champions League-era, emulating Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid.
PSG kept Liverpool scoreless across the two legs
PSG kept Liverpool scoreless across the two legs
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Enrique himself admitted that Liverpool were unlucky not to score across the 180 minutes and things could've looked very different had the Reds scored first on Tuesday night.
He said: "It was an important game for us, a top game not just for our fans or Liverpool’s but for all fans. Two really good teams, Liverpool played a fantastic game, a lot of intensity. It was really tight.
"There were a few moments where we had the upper hand. Things got even tougher for us in the second half but we showed what kind of team we are. It was a wonderful Champions League quarter-final. Liverpool definitely deserved to score over the course of the game. Had we conceded a goal early on it would have been really difficult."