Liverpool Sets Unwanted Champions League Record After PSG Defeat in Quarterfinal
Liverpool have set an unwanted record in the UEFA Champions League following their 2-0 loss against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of the quarterfinal at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia condemned the Reds to their third consecutive defeat in the competition, with manager Arne Slot admitting that the reigning UCL champions were the superior side.
Match Highlights and Key Moments
Liverpool manager Arne Slot made a significant lineup change, dropping Mohamed Salah from the starting XI after their 4-0 defeat to Manchester City on April 4. PSG took an early lead in the 11th minute when Desire Doue's effort was deflected past goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The hosts dominated proceedings in the first half, leaving Liverpool struggling to find their rhythm.
In the 65th minute, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled PSG's advantage with a brilliant solo run, rounding the goalkeeper before finishing calmly. The former Napoli star was named Player of the Match for his outstanding performance. Achraf Hakimi nearly added a third goal in the 82nd minute, but Mamardashvili produced a fine save to keep the scoreline respectable.
Unwanted Records and Statistics
According to Tribuna, Liverpool failed to register a single shot on target in a Champions League match for the first time in six years. PSG recorded 18 shots, with six on target, while Liverpool managed just three attempts without testing the goalkeeper. This defeat also marked Liverpool's fourth consecutive away loss, their worst run on the road since April 2012.
Manager and Player Reactions
Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised his players for showing fighting spirit despite the defeat. He stated, "Paris Saint-Germain was by far the better team today and could have scored more than two goals. But the good thing was that the players of Liverpool showed fighting spirit, kept going, every time or almost every time when they had a shot we had a lot of bodies behind the ball or protecting our box, which was necessary because if you don’t track back, if you don’t run back, these players, like the ones from Manchester City, are able to hurt you a lot." Slot added that they will try to come up with a different game plan for the second leg at Anfield.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk expressed disappointment in the result, saying, "I am not happy with losing, but we have the second leg next week. We had some chances to counter but didn't do it well."
Supercomputer Predictions
Legit.ng earlier reported that Opta's supercomputer has backed PSG to progress to the semi-final, eliminating Liverpool over the two legs of the quarterfinal. The supercomputer gives PSG a 59.6% chance of reaching the next round, while Liverpool holds the remaining 40.4% chance. Additionally, the French side has a 12% chance of retaining their title.
This match highlights Liverpool's ongoing struggles in European competition, setting the stage for a challenging second leg at Anfield as they aim to overturn the deficit and avoid further unwanted records.
