PSG vs Liverpool — Salah remained on the bench as Liverpool lost 0-2 to defending Champions League champions

Defending champions Paris St Germain were a cut above Liverpool as goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia took them to an easy 2-0 home win in the Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday.

Doue and Kvaratskhelia struck either side of half-time to give Luis Enrique’s side a solid lead ahead of next week’s return at Anfield, where PSG booked a place in the last eight last season.

Doue opened the scoring with a deflected try before Kvaratskhelia doubled the lead with a superb solo run and finish, but PSG squandered a handful of chances that would have further strengthened their push for the semi-finals.

Liverpool, beaten 4-0 by Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals last weekend, deployed cautiously with three centre-backs and Mohamed Salah on the bench but struggled to contain a PSG side that patiently mixed possession with bursts of attacking intensity.

Arne ‌Slot opted for a back three with wings, but the defense only held out for eleven minutes in the Parc des Princes.

Doue picked up the ball on the left side of the penalty area and his curling shot towards the opposite top corner took a slight deflection off Ryan Gravenberch and went beyond the reach of Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Liverpool held on for dear life, picked up two yellow cards within three minutes and were hardly in danger.

ZERO SHOTS ON TARGET FOR LIVERPOOL

As the visitor’s defense cleared, Kvaratskhelia fired a half-volley that forced Mamardashvili to stretch fully. The keeper then denied Doue from close range, minimizing Liverpool’s deficit.

Ousmane Dembele then missed a golden opportunity to double the lead when he shot straight at the keeper after a sharp transition.

Liverpool, who failed to score a single shot before half-time, were fortunate to be only one goal behind.

Hugo Ekitike was the first to have a chance, but shot wide four minutes into the second half. But that was as close as the visiting side could get, failing to get a single shot on target.

However, Liverpool looked bolder after the break, albeit limited compared to PSG, who played keep-ball and tormented them with brutal changes of pace.

One of them came in the 65th minute when Joao Neves played in a racing Kvaratskhelia and the Georgian danced his way through the area, rounded Mamardashvili and fired the ball home.

Dembélé’s angled shot hit the post and Nuno Mendes created a golden opportunity in the closing minutes, while Liverpool still harbored a small hope of overcoming the deficit next Tuesday.

Published on April 9, 2026