PSG's Dembele Double Pushes Liverpool Out As PSG Reach Champions League Semis

Ousmane Dembele struck twice at Anfield as Paris Saint-Germain beat Liverpool 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate to reach the Champions League semi-finals, ending Liverpool’s hopes and increasing pressure on head coach Arne Slot.

Liverpool needed to overturn PSG’s 2-0 first-leg lead and pushed hard in front of a loud home crowd, yet the European holders stayed composed, defended effectively, and punished key lapses, with Dembele’s second-half quality proving the main difference.

The opening stages were lively, as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia tested compatriot Giorgi Mamardashvili with an early effort, while Alexander Isak’s header from a corner was safely handled by Matvey Safonov at the other end during a frantic beginning.

Mamardashvili then dashed from goal to deal with an overhit pass, only to see the clearance fall straight to Dembele, whose lobbed attempt from around 25 yards was clawed away by the retreating Liverpool goalkeeper before it could drop under the crossbar.

Arne Slot was forced into a change on 30 minutes when Hugo Ekitike landed awkwardly off the ball, with Mohamed Salah introduced and almost transforming the game immediately, as a precise cross located Milos Kerkez, whose driven strike was superbly saved by Safonov before Marquinhos blocked Virgil van Dijk’s follow-up on the line.

Liverpool restarted with aggression, and another Salah delivery after the interval found Kerkez unmarked, though the right-footed shot went narrowly past the far post, setting the tone for a spell of mounting pressure from the hosts that raised Anfield’s volume.

The home side believed their push had paid off in the 65th minute when Alexis Mac Allister fell under a challenge from Willian Pacho, with referee Maurizio Mariani initially pointing to the spot before overturning the decision following a VAR review that frustrated Liverpool players and supporters.

Substitute Rio Ngumoha injected extra energy and nearly turned the tie when a low drive forced a sharp save from Safonov, but PSG struck first as Dembele curled a precise finish from the edge of the area into the far corner on 72 minutes, a moment that effectively settled the contest.

Liverpool kept attacking in search of something for the home support, yet PSG exploited the spaces late on, and in the first minute of second-half stoppage time Dembele arrived in the box to guide in Bradley Barcola’s cross, sealing the victory and silencing hopes of a dramatic comeback.

Another PSG Liverpool Champions League masterclass from Dembele in England

This was another standout Champions League display in England from Dembele, who scored at least two goals in a match in the competition for the third time, with all three multi-goal performances coming in the last two seasons for PSG.

Dembele’s influence away to English clubs has grown, with involvement in five goals across the last five such Champions League trips, recording four goals and one assist, while at Anfield Dembele attempted a team-high six shots, hit the target three times, and recorded eight touches inside Liverpool’s penalty area.

By contrast, Liverpool’s attacking quartet of Cody Gakpo, Florian Wirtz, Isak and Salah managed just four shots between them across the match, highlighting PSG’s defensive organisation, while the lively Ngumoha produced three attempts during a comparatively short appearance as Liverpool chased an unlikely turnaround.

PSG Liverpool Champions League records and numbers

PSG’s victory added a historical note as they became only the third club, after Barcelona and Atalanta, to win consecutive away fixtures against Liverpool in European competition, and they are the first side to achieve that feat at Anfield in back-to-back campaigns.

The numbers underline how hard PSG had to work, as Liverpool generated an expected goals figure of 1.92 from 21 shots, with five efforts on target, while PSG recorded an xG of 1.25 from 12 attempts, capitalising ruthlessly on the decisive chances that arose during open play.

Key attacking and xG figures from the PSG Liverpool Champions League tie are shown below.

The defeat prompted a brief message from the club’s official account, reflecting the disappointment of the night and confirming that the run in Europe had ended for Slot’s team on 14 April 2026.

PSG now advance with momentum after another strong display in England, while Liverpool exit the Champions League having created enough chances to challenge the holders but lacking the cutting edge shown by Dembele, leaving Slot facing further scrutiny ahead of the next phase of the season.