Liverpool lost 2-0 against PSG in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie, making it a 4-0 loss on aggregate.
Arne Slot’s side gave it a good go, generating 1.94 expected goals from their 21 shots in the game, holding 53% possession in the game and 69% in the second half.
It felt like a changing of the guard tonight for Liverpool, as Mohamed Salah started on the bench, Rio Nguomoha played the biggest game of his career and five faces started together for the first time.
In this article, we’ll cover
Route one gameplan
Liverpool were able to start the game with their five big summer signings for the first time this season, as Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez all started.
Slot set up his side to go direct from the off against PSG, with Ekitike playing off the right, up against Nuno Mendes to win those long balls forward, while Isak pinned Willian Pacho as the left-sided centre-back and Wirtz pushed high between Marquinhos and Achraf Hakimi.
The midfield three of Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch would then look to arrive and win those loose second ball duels, as Liverpool tried to overpower PSG through the centre.
Slot’s plans were scuppered when Ekitike went down injured in the 31st minute, with Mohamed Salah entering the fray to replace him on the right.
However, the Egyptian was straight into the action, whipping in a cross with his first touch which led to an excellent block from Marquinhos to keep it 0-0.
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Midfield engines
With how aggressive Liverpool were looking to be to contest duels from direct balls forward and then counter press off of that, the midfield unit had a lot of work to get through, covering large amounts of ground.
Out of possession, Slot set his side up in a 4-2-4 (Mac Allister pushed into the front four from the midfield three), which left spaces between their units to entice PSG to play forward passes, before looking to collapse and be aggressive on any forward pass, looking to regain possession and attack in transition.
Szoboszlai made 11 ball recoveries in the game, winning eight of his 10 ground duels and winning all three of his aerial duels.
Meanwhile, Gravenberch won two of his three tackles, made three interceptions, winning three of his six ground duels and winning his only aerial duel in the match.
It felt like Slot tried to heavily lean on his midfield and their running power/physical edge over PSG, but in the end, it wasn’t enough.
Konate and Kerkez defensive performances
Ibrahima Konate was key to Liverpool’s attempted comeback, especially as they upped the ante in the second half, leaving bigger spaces for PSG to counter attack.
The French defender was brilliant at winning his duels to sustain pressure, whether it was Khvicha Kvaratskhelia or Dembele receiving in his channel, Konate was able to keep them facing their own goal, forcing poor touches and turnovers.
Kerkez also had a key role on both sides of the ball, tracking Hakimi who would make relentless runs coming the other way, dealing with Desire Doue in 1v1 isolations and then having to get forward to provide width and support Wirtz.
The 21-year-old won four out of five ground duels, two out of three aerial duels and completed his only tackle attempted, also making six ball recoveries.
Ousmane Dembele calls game
Dembele provided the real moment of quality in the game which put the tie to bed, making it 1-0 on the night and 3-0 on aggregate.
PSG knew with a two goal lead, they would get a chance in transition to kill the game if they could absorb enough pressure, which was seen from their second half approach, only having 31% of the ball.
Dembele’s first goal came in the 72nd minute, as Liverpool were unable to contain a transition attempt, with Kvaratskhelia and Dembele combining in a central zone before releasing Bradley Barcola in the channel.
From here, Barcola was able to carry the ball into the Liverpool box, dragging both Szoboszlai and Konate towards him, before finding Kvaratskhelia who found Dembele on the edge of the box in space.
Dembele had enough space to fake a shot on his right foot, before chopping it back onto his left and finding the bottom left corner, making it 3-0 and putting the game to bed.
The Frenchman added a fourth (his second) in the 91st minute, slotting it home from close range and securing PSG’s inclusion in the semi-final against either one of Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.