Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Liverpool: Fine goals from Desiree Douet and Hviča Kvaratschelia ensure Liverpool are at full strength for the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals
Hviča Kvaratscheria shines during PSG’s win over Liverpool (Image: Stuart Franklin/UEFA)
Liverpool have a mountain to climb if they want to continue their season after losing 2-0 to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.
The reigning European champions were swarmed by their challengers from the off, and Liverpool’s resistance lasted just 11 minutes. Desire Due took a smart turn at the edge of the penalty area, twisting away from his two red shirts and looping a shot over Giorgi Mamadashvili after an unfortunate deflection from Ryan Gravenbirch.
During the rest of the one-sided first half, in which Liverpool did not manage to get a single shot on target, Hviča Kvaratskhelia twice came close to doubling PSG’s lead.
Arne Slott’s side improved after the break as they aim for an equalizer for their return fixture at Anfield next week. However, Kvaratschelia scored a stunning solo goal to give PSG a healthy advantage on Merseyside. Here’s the thing about mirror football…
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1) Roll the dice in the slot
Still reeling from their disastrous defeat to Manchester City at the weekend, Liverpool lined up a back three at the Parc des Princes, with Joe Gomez, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk alongside Milos Kerkes and Jeremy Frimpong as wing-backs.
Unfortunately, that extra body didn’t translate into improved defensive performance. PSG looked sharp from the start and it didn’t take long for them to get past the Reds. And even though it deflected, Douai’s early attack was sadly a sign of things to come for the beleaguered Premier League champions, even if they were spared further damage in the first period of the match.
Given the advantage of playing the second leg at Anfield, a one-goal difference would have been an acceptable result for Slott, and tightening things up is likely to have been considered along with the change in form. But PSG’s quality side heading into Anfield with a two-goal advantage feels daunting, if not completely insurmountable.
2) A tale of two attacks
The dazzling Desire Douet scores PSG’s opening goal against Liverpool (Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista)
Last month’s announcement that Mo Salah would leave Liverpool this summer marked the end of an era. He was the last bastion of the Liverpool attack that terrorized the team, first alongside Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino and then Luis Diaz. Basically, Liverpool under Salah were blessed with considerable firepower.
Watching PSG sometimes throw players like Douye, Kvaratschelia and Ousmane Dembele up front, it felt like it reminded me of Liverpool’s attacks of old. PSG had stardust all over the pitch, but Liverpool were without stardust as Salah was slumping.
Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz were ineffective. PSG are a formidable marker, and while Wirtz has struggled to improve, Ekitike has performed well since joining in the summer. Alexander Isak, who came on as a substitute in the second half, is one of the best strikers in the Premier League in recent years and will likely score a goal. But when it comes to a front that could rival Europe’s elite like PSG, it feels like Liverpool are now playing catch-up.
3) PSG continues to improve
Liverpool were on the back foot for much of the match in Paris (Image: Justin Setterfield)
Winning consecutive European titles is no mean feat. However, based on this evidence, PSG will pause briefly in their quest to retain their Champions League crown.
Last year, they defeated Inter 5-0 to win Europe’s most coveted award for the first time. And they did the same over two legs against Chelsea to reach the quarter-finals, then flexed their muscles again against Liverpool, who should have won.
Don’t get me wrong, this was the most one-sided thing in Europe. And Liverpool, who failed to register a single shot on target all night, are not enjoying their best season yet, but they have nothing to gain from PSG. That’s why a second Champions League trophy, just 12 months after the first, is looking increasingly like a formality.
4) Isak boosts slots
It’s been a tough season for Liverpool and Slott, but the sight of Isak back on the pitch will be a huge boost for everyone in red.
The Swedish striker made his first appearance in three and a half months in the final minutes of the second half when Liverpool were looking for a goal. Although that didn’t happen, the possibility of Isak being available for longer in the return leg is a big plus for the Reds.
5) Salah’s long farewell
Mohamed Salah was on the bench after the defeat (Image: Franck Fife/AFP)
The fact that Salah, long a big name for Liverpool, raised no eyebrows when he was named on the bench for Wednesday night’s shock encounter in Paris is a testament to how dramatically the Egyptian forward’s form has fallen this term.
And if there was any doubt about Salah’s place in this Liverpool team, the fact that he was not among the four substitutes Slot made in the 78th minute with the Reds in need of a goal says it all.
After his poor showing against Manchester City, it now looks increasingly likely that the majority of Salah’s farewell tour will see him warming up to the bench. It would be a sad end to Salah’s illustrious relationship with Liverpool, but it’s hard to make a case for him to start the game at this point.
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