12th March, 2025
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) stunned Liverpool with a nerve-wracking 4-1 penalty shootout triumph at Anfield on Tuesday, sealing their place in the Champions League quarter-finals in dramatic fashion.
The Parisians, trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Paris, responded with a gritty performance in Merseyside, snatching a 1-0 win of their own in regulation time courtesy of a brilliant strike from Ousmane Dembele.
With the aggregate level at 1-1, extra time brought no breakthrough, pushing the epic showdown into the dreaded penalty shootout.
As tension gripped the iconic stadium, PSG exuded ruthless efficiency from the spot while Liverpool faltered under pressure.
Desire Doue coolly dispatched the opening kick, setting the tone for the visitors. Moments later, Curtis Jones stepped up for Liverpool, but his effort was smothered by the imperious Gianluigi Donnarumma, who would go on to deliver a goalkeeping masterclass.
Ousmane Dembele, Goncalo Ramos, and Vitinha followed suit for PSG, firing their penalties into the net with unerring precision.
Mohamed Salah managed to convert for Liverpool, but their hopes crumbled when Darwin Nunez was denied by Donnarumma once again, leaving the Anfield faithful in stunned silence.
Liverpool had their moments in extra time, with Salah and Luis Diaz coming close, but PSG’s resilience held firm. Alisson produced a series of fine saves, but his heroics weren’t enough to prevent the heartbreak that followed.
The defeat marks an agonizing exit for the Reds, who had dreams of reclaiming European glory. For PSG, it is a statement of intent— a warning to the remaining contenders that they are here for the ultimate prize.
