PSG's Ousmane Dembélé stars as Liverpool fall in Champions League clash
Paris Saint-Germain took a commanding step towards the Champions League semi-finals with a 2-0 first-leg victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring both goals. The French winger struck twice in the final twenty minutes to give the reigning European champions a significant advantage heading back to the Parc des Princes. According to match reports, PSG weathered a spirited Liverpool performance before Dembélé's quality proved decisive.
Liverpool, under manager Arne Slot, started brightly and created several promising openings in the first half. Mohamed Salah, introduced early after an injury to Hugo Ekitiké, was instrumental, with his cross leading to a crucial block by Marquinhos to deny Virgil van Dijk. The hosts also saw a potential penalty claim for a challenge on Alexis Mac Allister reviewed and dismissed by the VAR. Despite enjoying 69% possession in the second half and registering 17 shots, Liverpool failed to beat Matvei Safonov in the PSG goal.
The breakthrough came against the run of play in the 72nd minute. After a counter-attack led by Bradley Barcola, Dembélé received the ball on the edge of the area and fired a precise, low shot past goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The French international then sealed the victory in stoppage time, completing a swift move to tap in Barcola's cross for his second. The result continues PSG's formidable form in this season's competition under Luis Enrique.
The match was marred by a serious-looking injury to Liverpool's Hugo Ekitiké, who was stretchered off in tears in the first half. The timing, with the 2026 World Cup just two months away, raises immediate concerns for both Liverpool and the French national team. PSG also lost Nuno Mendes and Désiré Doué to lesser injuries during the contest, though both substitutions appeared precautionary.
For Dembélé, the brace underscores his elevated status as a key leader for PSG. His performance at Anfield, a ground where he has historically thrived, demonstrated a clinical edge that Liverpool lacked. The result leaves Arne Slot's side with a monumental task in the second leg in Paris, where they must overcome a two-goal deficit against a team renowned for its control and defensive solidity. PSG, meanwhile, reinforced their credentials as serious contenders to retain the Champions League trophy, with their pragmatic and effective approach yielding another crucial away result.
