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Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two Liverpool penalties Liverpool's Champions League ambitions were ended after they lost on penalties to an outstanding Paris St-Germain side after a night of drama at Anfield. PSG, needing to claw back a 1-0 deficit from the first leg at home, demonstrated how they have matured under coach Luis Enrique as they knocked out a Liverpool side touted as favourites to win the tournament. Ousmane Dembele's early goal provided the platform for the turnaround, with Liverpool unable to break the French visitors down, while PSG were a constant threat. PSG's victory over two legs was thoroughly deserved, with keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma emerging as their hero in the shootout, saving from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones before Desire Doue hammered home the winning spot-kick in front of joyous fans. Liverpool made a lightning fast start in an attempt to extend that first-leg advantage, with Mohamed Salah twice coming close in front of the Kop, which was in expectant mood. With Liverpool making the running, there was always the chance PSG's outstanding strikeforce could punish them on the counter and so it proved after only 12 minutes - with a large helping hand from the home defence. Bradley Barcola's cross was routine, but a communication breakdown between Alisson and Ibrahima Konate proved costly, the defender knocking the ball out of the keeper's reach for Dembele to pounce from almost on the goal-line. PSG had other opportunities but could not cash in, Alisson rushing out to save at the feet of Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia firing off target when well placed. Liverpool mounted sustained pressure after the break but struggled to break down PSG's resilient rearguard, although it took a fine clawing save from Donnarumma to keep out Luis Diaz's header, while substitute Jarell Quansah struck the post and Dominik Szoboszlai had an effort ruled out for offside. PSG were by far the better side in extra time, with Alisson making a magnificent save from Dembele before Liverpool's fate was sealed on penalties. 'Nunez not to blame - but you felt his miss carried more weight' 'The best game I've ever been involved in' - Slot on PSG defeat Arne Slot consoles Darwin Nunez, who missed Liverpool's second penalty Liverpool players slumped to the turf in disappointment as the fates and fortunes of the Champions League were illustrated in this thrilling last-16 tie that provoked all the emotions on a classic European night at Anfield. Arne Slot's side have barely broken stride as they topped the Champions League table and raced 15 points clear in the Premier League - but this is the biggest setback Liverpool and their Dutch coach have suffered this season. Ironically, Liverpool played much better in defeat at Anfield then they did when winning in the Parc des Princes in the first leg, but that was no consolation as this time luck did not smile on them as they were denied by the woodwork and then on penalties, when Donnarumma's expertise came to the fore. And most of all, they were frustrated by a top-class PSG side who are shaping up as potential Champions League winners. Anfield provided its usual thunderous atmosphere but Liverpool could not quite deliver, looking leggy and second best in the added 30 minutes. Liverpool will need to recover swiftly, with the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United at Wembley on Sunday, but this was a defeat that will hurt deeply as they would have had Champions League expectations far beyond the last 16. Donnarumma was PSG's shootout hero PSG's fearless approach in the usual cauldron of European night at Anfield demonstrates how the transition from the era of signing superstars to a more considered approach is reaping its reward. Luis Enrique's side could barely believe they lost the first leg in Paris after overpowering Liverpool until Harvey Elliott's late goal. There was no way they were going to dominate to such an extent here but they refused to take a backward step in search of the result that would take them through. PSG eventually made their way through on penalties, but Liverpool followed Manchester City in feeling the growing power of side that is shaping up as a serious Champions League force. The so-called "Bling Bling" era of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Neymar is in the past, replaced by a younger, more cohesive team that will be a huge threat to anyone they face. Dembele is finally fulfilling all his potential while the signing of Georgia winger Kvaratskhelia gives PSG an added attacking dimension. And in Donnarumma, they had a keeper who repeated his penalty shootout heroics of the Euro 2020 final for Italy against England at Wembley to send Liverpool out. He had a mixed night, and was at fault for Elliott's goal in the first leg - but here he was the hero as PSG secured a landmark win. After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users. Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Last Updated 11th March 2025 at 22: 44 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Manager: Arne Slot Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Luis Enrique Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 Manager: Arne Slot Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 Manager: Luis Enrique Formation: 4 - 3 - 3 UEFA Champions League All competitions All competitions All competitions After losing their first European meeting with Paris SG in April 1997 (0-3 in the Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final first leg), Liverpool have only lost one of four against them since, winning three of them. None of the last 15 French sides to play away from home against an English opponent in Europe have managed to win, with 14 of those ending in defeats (D1). Indeed, the last such victory was by Paris SG in December 2020 against Manchester United (3-1 in the UEFA Champions League). Liverpool have progressed from each of their last 14 UEFA Champions League knockout stage ties having won the first leg, with Bayer Leverkusen in 2001-02 (quarter-finals) the last side to eliminate them after the Reds had taken an advantage into the second leg (Liverpool won first leg 1-0, lost 2-4 in the second). Paris SG have managed to progress from two of their previous five UEFA Champions League knockout stage ties after losing the first leg, coming back to beat Borussia Dortmund on aggregate in the 2019-20 last 16 (3-2) and Barcelona in the 2023-24 quarter-finals (6-4). Liverpool have won all four of their home games in the UEFA Champions League this season. Should they claim another victory here, Arne Slot would become the first manager to win each of his first five home matches in charge of an English side in the competition. Paris SG have held their opponents to under one expected goal on nine occasions in the UEFA Champions League this season (including in the first leg v Liverpool); the most of any side. Indeed, Liverpool’s two shots in the first meeting (0. 27 x G) were their fewest in a knockout stage game in the competition on record (since 2003-04). Paris SG players combined to complete 19 dribbles in the first leg of this tie; the most by a team in a UEFA Champions League game against Liverpool since Porto in March 2018 (21). Indeed, the two highest game totals by a side in the knockout stages of the competition this term have both been by Paris SG: 20 v Brest (play-off round) and 19 v Liverpool (round of 16). Paris SG’s Vitinha has completed 474 passes under high-intensity pressure in the UEFA Champions League this season, 100 more than the player with the next-most (Joshua Kimmich, 374). Indeed, 49 of those came against Liverpool last time out; the most in a knockout stage in the competition this term. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has played more games without scoring against Paris SG than against any other opponent in his UEFA Champions League career (3). In the first leg of this tie, Salah failed to attempt a shot in a game for just the second time as a Liverpool player in this competition (previously v Real Madrid in March 2023, which was also in the round of 16). Liverpool’s Alisson made nine saves in the first leg against Paris SG last week, helping his side to keep a clean sheet in the process. The most saves on record (since 2003-04) by a goalkeeper without conceding over two legs of a UEFA Champions League knockout stage is 12, achieved by Gianluigi Buffon in 2012-13 (12 v Celtic) Hugo Lloris in 2018-19 (12 v Borussia Dortmund). Substitution, Liverpool. Jarell Quansah replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold because of an injury. Substitution, Liverpool. Darwin Núñez replaces Diogo Jota. Delay in match because of an injury Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool). Substitution, Paris Saint Germain. Désiré Doué replaces Bradley Barcola. Foul by Marquinhos (Paris Saint Germain). Diogo Jota (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match because of an injury Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint Germain). Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Attempt blocked. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Willian Pacho. Attempt blocked. Diogo Jota (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Delay over. They are ready to continue. Delay in match because of an injury Vitinha (Paris Saint Germain). Attempt saved. Luis Díaz (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Alexis Mac Allister with a cross. Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Willian Pacho. Attempt blocked. Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. João Neves (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half. Foul by Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool). Attempt missed. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Luis Díaz. Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.