Liverpool visit Paris Saint-Germain for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final with the pressure continuing to ramp up on head coach Arne Slot. The Reds’ comprehensive defeat away to Manchester City in the FA Cup means Europe is now their only route to silverware in a difficult season.
While the imminent return of Alexander Isak from a leg fracture will lift spirits, Liverpool are not favoured to progress past PSG, the reigning champions who edged Slot’s side in a thrilling round-of-16 clash last season.
Luis Enrique’s hosts remain without Bradley Barcola owing to injury but offered a reminder of their attacking depth by hammering Chelsea 8-2 on aggregate in the previous round, and this remains the toughest of away trips.
Liverpool’s pride, as well as their season, is on the line after their humiliation at the Etihad and they will certainly need more “fighting spirit” if they are to keep alive their hopes of salvaging a difficult campaign with silverware.
Follow all the action from the Champions League quarter-final, below
PSG 2-0 Liverpool
87 mins: PSG burst forward on the break and look to be in on goal.
Dembele drives the move before slipping to ball to Lee and sprinting around the outside of his teammate.
He fizzes a shot at goal and rattles the outside of the nearest post!
PSG 2-0 Liverpool
85 mins: Liverpool look likely to lose four consecutive away matches for the first time since 2012.
It’s not been a great night but maybe they can salvage something.
Joe Gomez flings a throw in into the box but Nuno Mendes is there to head it away.
PSG 2-0 Liverpool
82 mins: Save!
Mamardashvili leaps to the left this time to turn the ball wide after Hakimi takes a shot from range.
The resultant corner comes to nothing for PSG but Liverpool are struggling for control, as they have been all night.
PSG 2-0 Liverpool
79 mins: Liverpool’s changes haven’t resulted in a change of shape so it’s like-for-like.
Can the subs have the impact Arne Slot is after?
Liverpool could do with a goal.
PSG 2-0 Liverpool
76 mins: Desire Doue’s night is done and Kang-in Lee comes on to replace him.
Arne Slot, meanwhile, makes four changes. Andy Robertson, Cody Gakpo, Curtis Jones and Alexander Isak are all introduced.
Milos Kerkez, Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike are the ones replaced.
No penalty!
PSG 2-0 Liverpool
72 mins: Well! VAR has come to the rescue for Liverpool and the referee is called over to the pitchside monitor.
Having looked at the replays he overturns his own decision and Liverpool look like they may have gotten away with one.
Penalty to PSG!
PSG 2-0 Liverpool
70 mins: Zaire-Emery is slipped the ball by Doue as he makes a run into the box.
Ibrahima Konate comes from behind and sticks a leg across the attacker. He wins the ball but nudges Zaire-Emery first.
The referee points to the spot and issues Konate a yellow card.
PSG 2-0 Liverpool
69 mins: The PSG fans are really vocal now. They’re enjoying themselves and having a great time.
Arne Slot isn’t. Now he needs to do something to change the outcome but Liverpool are in a tricky spot.
If they concede again then they are effectively out of the tie.
A goal in their favour though could set up a fine end to the game.
Kvaratskhelia has history with Liverpool
Kvaratskhelia has a past with Liverpool.
“He was terrific against them for Napoli – when nicknamed Kvaradona – in 2022.
“Now a goal tonight is another sign of his class.”
GOAL! PSG 2-0 Liverpool (Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, 65′)
A threaded pass comes through the Liverpool line and into the path of Kvaratskhelia.
He weaves further into the box and touches the ball past Ryan Gravenberch and then the goalkeeper before sidefooting a fine shot into the back of the net.
PSG double their lead!