Dembélé doubles up as PSG win at Anfield

On a wet and blustery night at Anfield, Paris Saint-Germain won 2-0 against Liverpool, securing a semifinal spot in the Champions League. Catch up on all the action from Merseyside with our match recap.

A battling first half

With Fabián Ruiz the only absentee of note for the Ligue 1 McDonald's leaders, it was as you were for Luis Enrique's side, with fit-again Bradley Barcola starting on the bench. His opposite number, Arne Slot, would make some surprising changes, though. Jérémie Frimpong and Alexander Isak were both in the eleven for the Reds, with Mo Salah starting on the bench.   

In the match's early going, the capital side were positive, as a shot by Warren Zaïre-Emery was blocked (3') and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had a chance from the resulting corner. Liverpool responded, but once again PSG looked dangerous on the counter, with Zaïre-Emery forcing the Liverpool 'keeper off his line. The best chance of the first half hour for PSG would undoubtedly fall to Ousmane Dembélé, but he fired over the bar from close range after a fine bit of skill to get away a shot on the turn (17')

Liverpool then were in the ascendancy, and on 22' there was a nervy moment for PSG as Matvery Safonov was forced to make a save against Isak with the flag going up late. On the half hour, Marquinhos would then show plenty of poise to get in a great block to take the ball off the feet of Virgil Van Dijk in the box. Besides Nuno Mendes being forced off before the break, though, there was little else of consequence in the first half, which ended scoreless. 

OUSMANE. ⭐️
DEMBÉLÉ. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/M6oJxOVRZ9

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) April 14, 2026

PSG hold their nerve before Dembélé's brilliance

Pre-match, Slot had gestured to Isak's lack of fitness, and would replace the Swede at the break, bringing on Cody Gakpo. The Dutchman would immediate set about making a difference, testing Safonov with a low ball (49') aimed at the top corner. Just three minutes late, PSG's injury concerns deepened, as Doué was forced off, with Bradly Barcola on in his place.

Liverpool continued to press for a goal but on the hour PSG broke on the counter, and were denied only for a flag against Dembélé. Four minutes later, on 64 minutes, there was a decisive penalty shout for Liverpool as Willian Pacho brought down Alexis Macallister but the initial decision was waved off by VAR. But after nearly half an hour of the hosts' sustained pressure, Liverpool's inability to capitalize would cost them, as Dembélé hammered home a ball from the edge of the area, making it 3-0 on aggregate. In added time, the reigning Ballon d'Or winner would add a second, finishing a teasing cross from Barcola to seal the final margin in stoppage time.

Now safely assured of spot in the semifinals, Paris Saint-Germain will face one of Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the next round. In the meantime, it's back to Ligue 1 McDonald's, as the leaders will take on Lyon at home on Sunday and FC Nantes Wednesday week as they look to maintain their lead over RC Lens.

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