PSG seize control with dominant 2–0 win over Liverpool in Champions League first leg

Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored as Paris Saint‑Germain outclassed Liverpool 2–0 in their UEFA Champions League quarterfinal first leg on Wednesday, taking a firm advantage ahead of next week’s return fixture at Anfield.

Doue opened the scoring in the 11th minute when his effort deflected off Ryan Gravenberch and looped over visiting goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Kvaratskhelia then rounded his compatriot midway through the second half to double the lead in a match PSG controlled from start to finish, SuperSport reports.

PSG could have won by a wider margin, having also seen a second-half penalty overturned by VAR. The reigning European champions repeatedly carved open a Liverpool side that lined up with a back three—an extremely rare approach under manager Arne Slot.

“I think we had chances to score more… 2–0 is good but we have to stay focused because we have to play at Anfield,” Kvaratskhelia told Canal Plus.

The defeat compounds a difficult spell for Liverpool, coming just five days after their 4–0 FA Cup quarterfinal loss to Manchester City. Slot’s side have now won only once in six matches across all competitions.

They must now attempt another turnaround at home, similar to their last-16 comeback against Galatasaray, where they overturned a 1–0 deficit with a 4–0 victory at Anfield. But PSG pose a far stiffer challenge.

The two sides met at the same stage last season, when PSG advanced on penalties after a 1–0 second-leg win at Anfield.

Liverpool were without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker, leaving Mamardashvili to start.
Mohamed Salah was also benched, alongside Alexander Isak, who was returning from a long-term leg fracture.

Hugo Ekitike led the Liverpool line against his former club, where he previously struggled for game time behind Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi and Neymar.

At the back, Joe Gomez joined Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk in an unusual three-centre-back setup. Liverpool pressed aggressively early on but were soon forced to chase the ball as PSG dictated the tempo.

PSG were already well in control when Doue picked up the ball outside the box after an Ousmane Dembélé dribble, advanced into the area and unleashed a shot that struck Gravenberch’s boot, looping over Mamardashvili.

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