PSG Eliminate Arne Slot’s Liverpool from Champions League
- Liverpool have been eliminated from the 2026 Champions League quarter-finals following a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield on April 14, 2026.
- Ousmane Dembele scored twice in the second half of the second leg to secure the win for the French side.
- The tie began at the Parc des Princes, where PSG secured a 2-0 lead in the first leg with goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue.
Liverpool have been eliminated from the 2026 Champions League quarter-finals following a 2-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain at Anfield on April 14, 2026. The result concludes a 4-0 aggregate victory for the defending champions, who advance to the semi-finals for the third consecutive year.
Ousmane Dembele scored twice in the second half of the second leg to secure the win for the French side. The defeat leaves Arne Slot’s side facing a trophyless campaign, as they currently sit fifth in the Premier League.
Match Details and Tactical Decisions
The tie began at the Parc des Princes, where PSG secured a 2-0 lead in the first leg with goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue. In that opening match, Arne Slot employed a bold back-five formation to provide extra ballast against the PSG attack.
For the return leg at Anfield, Slot made a controversial decision regarding his starting lineup. Mohamed Salah, who is departing the club after nine years, was left on the bench for his final Champions League appearance in a Liverpool shirt.
In Salah’s place, Alexander Isak started up front. This marked Isak’s first start since breaking his leg in December. The decision drew criticism from football expert Julien Laurens, who described the starting lineup as complete nonsense
on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Post-Match Reactions and Injury Concerns
Following the match, Arne Slot expressed frustration over Liverpool’s inability to convert chances, noting that the team had underperformed in terms of expected goals (xG) throughout the season.
Unfortunately it’s one of the many examples of this season where we weren’t able to score from the many chances we had. Again, we were so underperforming in terms of xG and that is just an ongoing thing with us throughout the whole season.
Arne Slot
Slot also highlighted a VAR intervention that went against his side, stating that there had been several decisions throughout the season that did not favor Liverpool.
The evening was further marred by a serious-looking injury to Hugo Ekitike. Slot indicated that the injury appeared to be bad, though official confirmation was not immediately available. Reports suggest the injury could potentially end Ekitike’s season.
Analysis of the Performance
Despite the aggregate scoreline, Slot believed his team showed progression between the first and second legs. He praised the work ethic of the players and the support of the fans at Anfield, which he felt helped the team execute a high-pressing game plan.
Slot maintained a positive outlook on the club’s direction despite the exit, suggesting that the ability to be the dominant team against the European champions in their own stadium indicates a bright future for the squad.
However, the exit has intensified pressure on the manager. Following the dominant PSG performance, questions have been raised regarding the club’s identity and the tactical direction under Slot’s leadership.
In the first leg, Slot had admitted that Liverpool were lucky to only lose 2-0
given the number of chances PSG created. While the second leg saw more dominance from the Reds, they were unable to overcome the deficit and the clinical finishing of Ousmane Dembele.