Liverpool beaten on penalties as Paris St Germain progress in Champions League

Liverpool’s Champions League dreams were ended by Paris St Germain in a penalty shoot-out after the French champions won their last-16 tie at Anfield.

Ousmane Dembele made it 1-1 on aggregate with an early goal and the teams played each other to a standstill over 120 minutes.

Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones were the unfortunate ones who were denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma as PSG won the shoot-out 4-1.

We exit the Champions League on penalties. #UCL pic.twitter.com/AW3Ph5EuQS

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 11, 2025

There was more bad news for Arne Slot on the night with Trent Alexander-Arnold – his only fit right-back – sustaining an ankle injury which looks like keeping him out of Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.

It was only Liverpool’s fourth loss in 28 penalty shoot-outs as even their hero from the win in Paris, goalkeeper Alisson Becker, could not get anywhere near any of PSG’s four shots.

But when Nunez missed his side’s second the writing was already on the wall and Jones’ failure with the third meant the end was swift as, for the first time in 40 occasions, Liverpool failed to progress after winning the first leg.

What began as a modern-day classic in the making ended in a tense, sketchy encounter with both sides fearful of making the mistake which would end their European hopes.

Liverpool may have a 15-point lead in the Premier League but the benefits of playing in a less taxing Ligue 1 showed in extra time with Slot’s side losing the physical battle.

That may have had something to do with the intensity they started the game with, much better than a week ago, and there was a reversal of roles with PSG not pressing as high or hard as they did at home.

The turnaround in fortunes also applied to the scoreline as after two good