PSG Knock Liverpool Out of Champions League With Dembélé Double at Anfield
Paris Saint-Germain have eliminated Liverpool from the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring twice in a 2-0 second-leg victory at Anfield to complete a dominant 4-0 aggregate win.
The result on 14 April 2026 ends Liverpool's European campaign and sends PSG into the semi-finals, where they will face the winner of the Bayern Munich versus Real Madrid tie — continuing their remarkable run as the first French club to reach three consecutive Champions League semi-finals.
Background
Liverpool entered the second leg at Anfield facing a daunting 2-0 deficit from the first leg in Paris, having failed to register a single shot on target in that match. Manager Arne Slot made changes for the home fixture, including starting Alexander Isak, who had been unavailable since December, in an attempt to spark a comeback.
Key Developments
The match was tightly contested in the first half, with PSG goalkeeper Matvei Safonov saving a header from Isak and Marquinhos making a crucial tackle on Virgil van Dijk to deny Liverpool. A penalty awarded to Liverpool in the 64th minute appeared to offer a lifeline, but VAR overturned the decision after review by referee Maurizio Mariani.
Dembélé broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute with a precise curler from the edge of the penalty area, before sealing the tie with a second goal in the 90th minute to complete a flowing PSG attack. The French side's starting eleven featured only one player over the age of 28 — captain Marquinhos — and five players under 25, showcasing the depth of their young squad.
Liverpool's teenage substitute Rio Ngumoha became one of the youngest players to appear in the Champions League knockout stage, while PSG's Hugo Ekitike suffered what Slot described as a "bad injury" during the match.
Why It Matters
The defeat represents a significant setback for Liverpool's European ambitions and raises questions about the club's ability to compete with the continent's elite. PSG, meanwhile, have now won their last five Champions League knockout ties against English clubs, underlining their status as genuine contenders for the title.
What's Next
Liverpool will now focus on their domestic campaign, while PSG prepare for a semi-final showdown against either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid. Arne Slot acknowledged his side's ability to compete with the European champions but expressed disappointment at the manner of the exit. Sources: UEFA, The Guardian
