Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia strike as holders dominate from start to finish; Arne Slot’s side suffer second heavy loss in five days.
PARIS – Paris Saint-Germain delivered a commanding performance at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, beating Liverpool 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final and leaving the reigning European champions with a mountain to climb at Anfield.
Desire Doue opened the scoring in the 11th minute when his shot deflected off Ryan Gravenberch, looping over goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled the lead 65 minutes in, rounding his compatriot Mamardashvili after a superb threaded pass from Joao Neves.
The scoreline could have been worse for Liverpool. PSG had a second-half penalty overturned after VAR review and Ousmane Dembele hit the post late on.
“I think we had chances to score more. There were many moments where we should score but it is OK,” Kvaratskhelia told Canal Plus. “2-0 is good but we have to stay focused because we have to play at Anfield.”
Liverpool’s tactical gamble fails
Arne Slot deployed an uncharacteristic three-center-back formation — a rarity for Liverpool under the Dutchman — featuring Joe Gomez alongside Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk. The plan backfired. PSG enjoyed 70 percent possession in the first half, and Liverpool’s only attempt came from an offside Jeremie Frimpong.
Mohamed Salah was left on the bench entirely, while Alexander Isak — returning from a leg fracture suffered in December — was introduced in a 78th-minute quadruple substitution but could not change the tide.
A difficult campaign worsens
The loss marks Liverpool’s second emphatic defeat in five days, following a 4-0 FA Cup quarter-final mauling by Manchester City last weekend. Slot’s side have now won just one of their last six matches across all competitions, suffering 16 reverses in a difficult campaign.
To reach the semi-finals, Liverpool must now overturn a two-goal deficit at Anfield next Tuesday. They managed a similar comeback in the last 16, losing 1-0 away to Galatasaray before winning 4-0 at home.
But this PSG side is a different proposition. Last season, the Parisians lost 1-0 at the Parc des Princes against Liverpool before winning 1-0 at Anfield and advancing on penalties — a result that propelled them toward the Champions League trophy.
Absences loom large
On that occasion, a string of saves from Alisson Becker had secured Liverpool’s smash-and-grab victory. The Brazilian was absent on Wednesday, forcing Mamardashvili into goal.
Hugo Ekitike, starting up front against his former club, failed to escape the shadows of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar that haunted his 18-month PSG spell.
Slot left Salah on the bench even as his team chased the game — a decision that will invite scrutiny in the days ahead.
What comes next?
PSG travel to Merseyside on Tuesday with a 2-0 cushion and a perfect recent memory: they won 1-0 at Anfield in last season’s round of 16. For Liverpool, the task is simple but daunting — score at least twice without reply to force extra time, or three to win outright.
“We know that the atmosphere will be amazing,” Kvaratskhelia said of the Anfield return. “We are already starting to prepare that game.”
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