PSG beat Liverpool as Champions League defence maintains pace

UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain claim 2-0 first-leg lead over English Premier League champions Liverpool.

Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League defence remains on course after a dominant 2-0 victory against Liverpool in the first leg of their quarterfinal tie.

The home side took the lead thanks to a deflected effort in the 11th minute on Wednesday, after Desire Doue’s effort from outside the box looped over the helpless Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Recommended Stories

list of 4 itemsend of list

The Reds are long out of their own title defence in the English Premier League this season and left only with the Champions League as a faint hope of silverware but Arne Slot’s side rallied in response to the Parisians’ fortune until the half-time whistle.

The second period was a far different matter, and all too familiar to Liverpool fans this season, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia deservedly doubled the advantage in the 65th minute, when the Georgian international dribbled into the box before rounding the keeper.

A total of 18 shots were registered by the home side, with six on target – Liverpool managed just three efforts on goal with none on target in reply.

It was far from the most fluent display by Luis Enrique’s side in the French capital, despite relentless passing and a 74 percent share of the possession, but their second half showing was a vast improvement from the first.

Achraf Hakimi’s 82nd minute drive was one of the biggest moments to settle the tie, but drew a fine save from Mamardashvili low to his left, which keeps his side in with a chance as the teams head to Anfield for the second leg next Tuesday.

There was little the Reds’ keeper could do other than hope when Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele produced a moment of brilliance with two minutes to play when he exchanged a one-two with substitute Lee Kang-In in the box with only to see his fierce strike rebound off the post.

The defeat marked Liverpool’s fourth consecutive defeat away from home, a first for the Merseyside club since April 2012

The winner will face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the next round, with the latter holding a 2-1 advantage following the first leg of their quarterfinal in the Spanish capital on Tuesday.