The world’s biggest superstars have all departed Paris in recent summers, but PSG look the very best version of themselves after outplaying Liverpool over two legs and defeating the Reds in a penalty shootout at Anfield on Tuesday to reach the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals.
MORE – Latest Champions League scores, knockout stage bracket
Once upon a time, Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe joined forces to create the most feared attacking trio of all time (at least on paper) before they eventually left the club one by one for a combined $0 in transfer fees during the summers of 2023 and 2024. Fast-forward to the very next season, and Luis Enrique used just one player (Marquinhos, who is 30) over the age of 28 to knock off the runaway Premier League leaders on their home field.
Just as Liverpool did a week ago, PSG scored with their second shot of the game — only this time it came in the 12th minute, rather than the 87th — to turn the tie on its head completely against the run of play. From that moment until halftime, though, PSG were once again able to put Liverpool under pressure with lightning quick counter-attacks with alarming frequency, and again it was a minor miracle that the Reds didn’t concede again.
Liverpool regained some semblance of control in the second half (just three shots for PSG, totaling 0.13 xG) but could only threaten Gianluigi Donnarumma from set pieces themselves. By the time extra-time began, both sides were running on fumes desperate for the penalty shootout to arrive.
Only one side relished the spot kicks, though, as Donnarruma denied Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones in rounds 2 and 3 after Mohamed Salah scored to round 1. Vitinha, Goncalo Ramos, Dembele and Desire Doue were all ice cold and put the ball where Alisson couldn’t reach it, even in the event he dove the right way.
Player ratings - Liverpool vs PSG
What’s next?
- Liverpool vs Newcastle — Sunday, 12:30 pm ET (League Cup final)
- PSG vs Marseille — Sunday, 3:45 pm ET (Ligue 1)
- Liverpool vs Everton — Wednesday, Apr. 2, 3 pm ET (next PL fixture)
- PSG vs Aston Villa in UCL QFs (Apr. 8-16)
Liverpool vs PSG live updates - by Andy Edwards
Liverpool vs PSG final score: 0-1 (1-1 agg.)
Goalscorers: Ousmane Dembele (12')
Penalty kicks - Liverpool vs PSG
PSG (4)
Made: Vitinha, Goncalo Ramos, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue
Missed: None
Liverpool (1)
Made: Mohamed Salah
Missed: Darwin Nunez, Curtis Jones
The moment PSG knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League 🥶 pic.twitter.com/KePR5rcSOv
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 11, 2025
EXTRA TIME! Liverpool, PSG still level at 1-1 after 180 minutes
Liverpool did a much better job of slowing the tempo down in the second half (just 3 shots allowed, totaling 0.13 xG), but PSG looked just as comfortable defending as they did racing back and forth.
SAVE! POST! GOAL! OFFSIDE! Liverpool denied in incredible sequence (53')
There was also a penalty shout in there as Dominik Szoboszlai sold out to get his head on the ball, but there was a delated offside before it all kicked off. The drama is incredible.
HALFTIME! Liverpool 0-1 (1-1 agg.) PSG: 45 minutes (or maybe 75) to go at Anfield
It could very easily be just about any scoreline imaginable at the break with both sides leaving a number of scoring chances on the table. Arne Slot won’t be happy with how open Liverpool were defensively as PSG needed just one or two passes to play through them and go in on goal. If it remains that easy in the second half, it’s really hard to imagine PSG not scoring again.
1.97 - PSG's first half xG of 1.97 is already the most any visiting side has recorded across a full game at Anfield this season in all competitions. Substantial.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 11, 2025
SAVE! Alisson denies Bradley Barcola 1v1 as Liverpool defense far too open (17')
Alisson comes to Liverpool's rescue yet again 🦸♂️❌ pic.twitter.com/Aw3xiqNWx8
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 11, 2025
GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 (1-1 agg.) PSG: Dembele pounces on Konate’s failed clearance (12')
Ousmane Dembélé gives PSG the lead at Anfield but the passes in the build up 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/4vYAPsa3fR
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) March 11, 2025
Completely against the run of play, a devastating counter-attack has PSG level on aggregate with 78 minutes left to play. What a tie this has been, with still so, so much to happen. That’s 20 goals in 15 games for Dembele in 2025 after scoring “just” 9 in the first half of the season, by the way.
BLOCK! Mo Salah denied by Nuno Medes at the back post (5')
All of Anfield was already on its feet with hands halfway in the air as the ball fell to Salah all by his lonesome at the back post and Gianluigi Donnarumma well out of position. It seemed impossible he wouldn’t score, but he couldn’t be it around the last defender standing.
Liverpool starting lineup
Alisson - Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson - Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai - Salah, Diaz, Jota
PSG starting lineup
Donnarumma - Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes - Vitinha, Neves, Ruiz - Kvaratshkelia, Barcola, Dembele
How to watch Liverpool vs PSG live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 4pm ET Tuesday (March 11)
Venue: Anfield -- Liverpool
TV/Streaming: Paramount+
Arne Slot’s Liverpool somehow lead 1-0 from the first leg after they took a battering in the Parc des Princes but a world-class display from Alisson in goal and slack finishing from PSG allowed Harvey Elliott to score a late winner for a proper smash and grab job in the French capital. Neither Liverpool nor PSG could quite believe it. Slot’s side weren’t great in their 3-1 comeback win against the Premier League’s bottom club Southampton on Saturday either, as the Dutch coach let his team have it at half time in the dressing room as they trailed 1-0. A triple sub at the break saw them turn it around and win but Slot was far from pleased and admitted his side must go “three, four or even five steps up” against PSG on Tuesday to match the intensity levels of Les Parisiens.
Luis Enrique’s PSG side must be feeling strangely confident heading into this second leg. Yes, they trail 1-0 and have to play at a raucous Anfield. But their incredible dominance in the first leg will give them huge hope they can score in the first half and then it’s anybody’s game. PSG are such a well-balanced, fluid side who pressed Liverpool high and made them extremely uncomfortable. Fabian Ruiz dictated the tempo in midfield, while Ousmane Dembele, Kivat Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola were constant threats in attack. With veteran Marquinhos marshaling the defense and Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, PSG also have a resolute defense and Nuno Mendes will have to have another fine game at left back to keep red-hot Mohamed Salah quiet.
Liverpool team news, focus
Slot rested Robertson and Mac Allister at the weekend but they came on at half time and had a huge impact. That underlined their importance to this team as their tenacity and directness helps knit everything together. Does Darwin Nunez start up top? Or will Cody Gakpo be fit to start as he is back in training after injury? Diogo Jota is of course another option in attack and Harvey Elliott scored off the bench in Paris and did well coming on at half time at the weekend, so he’s pushing for a start too. Alisson will have to have another big day in goal if Liverpool are going to reach the quarterfinals, while Van Dijk and Konate looked unusually flustered in the first leg but know what to expect this time.
OUT: Joe Gomez (thigh - MORE), Conor Bradley (thigh)
PSG team news, focus
There are no injuries for Enrique’s side, who enjoyed another easy win away at Rennes at the weekend in Ligue 1 to warm up for this game. With the likes of Zaire-Emery working his way back to full fitness, plus striker Goncalo Ramos chomping at the bit to start, Enrique has some big decisions to make. He suggested he will make minimal, if any changes, and surely he goes with the same starting lineup from the first leg? They did everything other than score and Enrique will be hoping lightning won’t strike twice.
Liverpool vs PSG prediction
This feels like it will be a little tetchier than the first game with Liverpool making adjustments to counteract PSG’s high-press and incredible energy levels. Expect a tight encounter and PSG to score, as it could go to extra time. I still expect Liverpool to advance. Just. Liverpool 1-1 PSG, after extra time (Liverpool advance 2-1 on aggregate)
