PSG hands Liverpool a scare
Paris Saint‑Germain beat Liverpool 2–0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal, and Liverpool failed to record a single shot on target — a result that leaves the tie very much in PSG’s control heading to Anfield. That kind of blanking in a major two‑leg tie makes Liverpool’s task in the return leg substantially harder. (bbc.com)
Liverpool did not just lose in Paris on Wednesday, April 8. They finished a Champions League quarterfinal first leg with 0 shots on target, while Paris Saint-Germain had 18 shots, 6 on target, and 74 percent possession at Parc des Princes. (espn.com) (telegraph.co.uk) The score was 2-0, but the game tilted early and stayed tilted. Désiré Doué scored in the 11th minute, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia added the second in the 65th after Paris Saint-Germain kept pushing Liverpool deeper and deeper. (liverpoolfc.com) (apnews.com) This is a two-leg tie, so Liverpool still get 90 minutes at Anfield on Tuesday, April 14. But starting the second leg two goals down is like beginning a race after the other runner already has a full straightaway. (uefa.com) (liverpoolfc.com) Paris Saint-Germain’s control came from the middle of the pitch, not just the finishers. The French side completed 683 passes at 92 percent accuracy, while Liverpool managed 189 passes at 75 percent, which meant Liverpool spent long stretches chasing the ball instead of building attacks. (telegraph.co.uk) Liverpool’s problem was not one bad moment from one defender or one missed save from one goalkeeper. Arne Slot’s team produced only 3 total shots and 0.17 expected goals, which is the kind of attacking output that usually leaves no room for a comeback inside the same match. (telegraph.co.uk) (365scores.com) The backdrop makes the result sting more. Sky Sports reported it was Liverpool’s fourth consecutive away defeat, their worst such run since April 2012, and this one came in the biggest competition in club football. (skysports.com) Paris Saint-Germain also came into this tie as the defending European champion, so this was not a young team stealing one hot night. Luis Enrique’s side looked like a team that already knows how to manage knockout games, press high, and keep a lead without giving the opponent a clean opening. (apnews.com) (nbcsports.com) That leaves Liverpool needing something Anfield has produced before: a fast start, a crowd-driven surge, and at least two goals just to pull the tie level. It is still alive on April 14, but after 90 minutes in Paris, the shape of it is clear: Paris Saint-Germain now get to play the second leg with the cushion, and Liverpool have to play it with the clock. (uefa.com) (foxsports.com)
