Paris Saint-Germain Take Early Control With 2-0 Win Over Liverpool In Champions League Quarter-final

Paris Saint-Germain seized control of their Champions League quarter-final by beating Liverpool 2-0 in Paris, earning a strong advantage before the second leg at Anfield. Luis Enrique’s team created far more chances, restricted Liverpool to three shots without one on target, and left Arne Slot’s side needing a major response in the return fixture.

PSG’s superiority showed clearly in the numbers. They produced 18 attempts with an expected goals value of 2.2, while Liverpool generated an xG of just 0.18. It was the first time since facing Atalanta in November 2020 that Liverpool completed a Champions League match without registering a shot on target.

The result also extended PSG’s strong recent record against English opposition in the Champions League. They have now recorded eight wins in their last 10 matches against Premier League clubs in the competition, drawing once and losing once. That equals their victory total from their first 27 such fixtures, which produced seven draws and 12 defeats.

Liverpool’s defeat continued a difficult spell across competitions after an FA Cup loss to Manchester City. The 2-0 reverse in Paris meant Liverpool have now been beaten in three straight games for the third time this season. It is the first campaign since 1953-54 in which Liverpool have suffered at least three separate runs of three or more consecutive defeats.

PSG struck early at the Parc des Princes, taking the lead in the 11th minute. Desire Doue collected the ball near the edge of the area and fired towards goal, with the shot deflecting off Ryan Gravenberch’s outstretched leg and looping beyond Giorgi Mamardashvili, who was left wrong-footed by the change of direction.

After the opener, PSG continued to force Liverpool back with sharp attacking play, especially down the flanks. Mamardashvili reacted well to push away Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s curling effort low to the goalkeeper’s right, then stood up strong when Doue broke clear on a fast counter-attack from the left and tried to finish one-on-one.

Liverpool rarely threatened but produced one promising move five minutes before half-time. Florian Wirtz produced an inventive flick to release Jeremie Frimpong, whose driven effort went narrowly wide of the far post. At the other end, Ousmane Dembele wasted a useful opening when Dembele struck straight at Mamardashvili from inside the box.

PSG Liverpool Champions League second-half incidents

After the interval, PSG maintained control and soon carved out more chances. Dembele again failed to increase the lead when Dembele arrived inside the area and sent a powerful shot over the crossbar. The pressure did not ease on Liverpool’s back line, which struggled to track runners from deep and deal with balls in behind.

PSG’s second goal arrived from another incisive move through midfield. Joao Neves produced a precise pass behind the Liverpool defence for Kvaratskhelia, who burst into the box, rode a challenge from Gravenberch, rounded Mamardashvili and calmly rolled the ball into the net, leaving Liverpool facing a difficult situation for the second leg.

There was further drama when Ibrahima Konate brought down Doue inside the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot. However, after a VAR review, Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez reversed the decision and cancelled the penalty. Late on, Nuno Mendes almost added a third but could not adjust feet quickly enough inside the box, so PSG travelled to Anfield with a two-goal cushion and Liverpool retained a slim chance of recovery.

{TABLE_1}

The first leg left PSG in a strong position to reach the Champions League semi-finals, with the advantage of a 2-0 scoreline and impressive underlying metrics. Liverpool, who travel back to Anfield under pressure and short of form, must overturn both the deficit and the momentum built by Luis Enrique’s side.