Farewell to the "King of Cups"

Despite dominating the first-leg encounter at Parc des Princes last week, PSG was denied by an outstanding performance from Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson. The Liverpool shot-stopper made nine crucial saves, helping his team claim a narrow victory. As a result, PSG had to endure the bitter taste of defeat on their home turf.

Ahead of the decisive second leg at the fiery Anfield, PSG forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia emphasized: “The most important thing when you step onto the pitch is to focus on football and give your best, whether we play at Anfield or in Paris—our goal remains the same: to win.” Meanwhile, Liverpool had already taken down European giants like Real Madrid, Leverkusen, and Manchester City at home this season without conceding a single goal. However, manager Arne Slot admitted that PSG’s dominant display in the first leg gave him sleepless nights as he repeatedly rewatched the match. “We were fortunate to win against PSG because they outplayed us completely. That’s why I can't predict anything. I don't dream about this week or the next—I just look forward to tomorrow. Everyone is excited about a game like this. Two great teams will face off at Anfield,” Slot shared.

As expected, the showdown between Liverpool and PSG lived up to the hype, providing a thrilling night of football that had fans captivated from start to finish.

With the passionate home crowd behind them, Liverpool immediately pushed forward in attack. In the 6th minute, Mohamed Salah had the first real chance of the match, but his shot went just wide of PSG’s goal. The hosts dominated the opening 10 minutes, but against the run of play, PSG struck first. In the 12th minute, a swift combination between Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola led to the opening goal. Barcola’s low cross found Dembélé, who slotted the ball past Liverpool’s defense and into the net.

Conceding early, Liverpool maintained their aggressive attacking approach but struggled to break through PSG’s intense pressing. The rest of the first half saw a tight contest, with Liverpool attempting ten shots but only managing one on target. The opening 45 minutes ended with PSG leading 1-0.

In the second-leg, determined to turn the game around, Liverpool intensified their attacks after the break. In the 53rd minute, Dominik Szoboszlai found the back of the net with a close-range finish, sending Anfield into a frenzy. However, the goal was disallowed as Luis Díaz was ruled offside in the buildup.

Liverpool continued to create chances, with Díaz nearly equalizing from a header in a corner kick situation, but PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a stunning save to keep his team ahead. In the 79th minute, substitute Jarell Quansah almost brought Liverpool level, but his header struck the post, much to the frustration of the home fans. After 90 minutes, PSG held onto their 1-0 lead, leveling the aggregate score at 1-1, sending the match into extra time. 

During extra time, Liverpool dominated possession and registered more shots, but PSG remained lethal on the counter-attack. Both teams had their chances, but neither could find the decisive goal, meaning the tie had to be settled via a penalty shootout.

Donnarumma turned hero for PSG in the shootout, saving penalty attempts from Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones. Meanwhile, PSG’s penalty takers—Vitinha, Gonçalo Ramos, Ousmane Dembélé, and Désiré Doué—all converted their spot-kicks flawlessly.

With a 4-1 victory in the shootout, PSG booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals in dramatic fashion.

For Liverpool, this defeat marked another painful exit from a cup competition after their FA Cup elimination. Now, the Reds are left with only two remaining objectives: the League Cup final and their ultimate goal—winning the Premier League title. Time to move on, Arne Slot.