Wasteful PSG Controls the First Leg: PSG vs Liverpool Quarter-Finals Game 1 Recap

In memory of the late Mircea Lucescu (1945-2026)…

Only 8 left to be Europe's best and a rematch rises to the occasion. In the first leg of the Champions League Quarter-Finals, Paris Saint-Germain hosts Liverpool at Parc des Princes.

(Image credit to si.com)

Despite not playing against each other on many occasions, PSG and Liverpool are no strangers to one another. In the 4 games they battled, the teams won 2 for each. Their most recent match was also in the Quarter-Finals of the UCL in the last season, in which the French team prevailed after a penalty shootout and then, they ended up winning the entire competition as well. 

PSG is not only in a current good form with 4 wins in their last 5 games, they also thrive against the British sides. The French side put down 3 consecutive British teams in their successful UCL campaign last year and since their defeat against Chelsea in the FIFA World Cup Final, they’re unbeaten against the Premier League sides. They came to this round with revenge over Chelsea, decimating the London side 8-2 on aggregate in the Round of 16. 

Meanwhile, the Reds made a long way since their last face-off and it’s been a very bumpy one. In their last five games, Liverpool has won only one game, which was their Anfield comeback against Galatasaray in the Round of 16 second leg. They’ve been leaky in the defence in general this season and that might be appetising for the patient but swift attackers of PSG. In the rematch of last season’s Quarter-Finals, let’s see how the teams are lined up on the pitch:

PSG XI: Safonov - Hakimi - Marquinhos - Pacho - Mendes - Zaïre-Emery - Vitinha - Neves - Doué - Kvaratskhelia - Dembélé

Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili - Frimpong - Gomez - Konaté - van Dijk - Kerkez - Gravenberch - Mac Allister - Szoboszlai - Wirtz - Ekitiké

Coming to this game, the hosts are missing the attacker Bradley Barcola and midfielder Fabian Ruiz due to injury, but the youngster Senny Mayulu is back on the bench. Meanwhile, the Reds lost their Brazilian glove Alisson to injury alongside Bradley and Endo, but they’re welcoming their Swedish striker Isak back to the bench.

(Image credit to mirror.co.uk)

First Half

Arne Slot shocks everyone, when Liverpool shows up to the pitch with 5 defenders at the back and gives away the ball possession to PSG. However, their plan to wait patiently and defend solidly until the opponent is tired only works for 11 minutes. Désiré Doué shoots with the first opening he finds in the Reds’ defence, the deflected ball from Ryan Gravenberch lobs the keeper and ends up in the back of the net. Despite falling back early, Liverpool sticks with their plan of playing unusually defensive for them, which allows PSG to keep the pressure on. Kvaratskhelia, Doué and Dembélé find opportunities to extend the lead of the French team in control, but Mamardashvili doesn’t let the gap blow open. Liverpool’s only serious goal threat came towards the end of the first half, when Florian Wirtz lobbed a pass to Frimpong over two defenders and the Dutch right-back’s shot from a rather tight angle went just wide. So, PSG leads Liverpool 1-0 at the end of the first half. 

Arne Slot may have thought to surprise Luis Enrique’s team by playing in a not-so-Liverpool way on the pitch, but that plan immediately backfired. PSG controlled the game so far, but the gap could have been even bigger, if they could be more clinical in the front end.

(Image credit to thesun.co.uk)

Second Half

The second half continues very similarly to the first half, PSG in possession, Liverpool in defense. The hosts extend their lead to 2 in the 65th minute, when Kvaratskhelia links up with João Neves and then dribbles past two players including his compatriot Mamardashvili to release the ball into the empty goal. Neves’ through ball into the tight space makes the goal dashing as much as Kvara’s dribbling efforts. Only 5 minutes later, another teamwork attack started by Zaïre-Emery almost ends with him too, before Konate intercepts and brings him down in the penalty box. The referee gives the penalty first, but after a VAR check, the decision is overturned. 

Both teams were not happy with the refereeing decisions, especially in this half. In the remainder of the half, wasted opportunities were in the centre of attention for PSG. Dembélé on multiple occasions and Mendes failed to find the target, Hakimi also couldn’t put the ball past the goalkeeper. And with that, the first leg ends 2-0 in favour of PSG.

(Image credit to dazn.com)

After the decimating loss in the FA Cup against Manchester City, the Reds tried to approach this game in a more cautious manner. However, in doing so, they gave up the control to PSG and allowed them to play the way they intended. This un-Liverpool way of gameplay seemed even worse with the rare and ineffective attacking attempts. 3 shot attempts and none found the target, Liverpool attack got butchered by the PSG defence and their own unusual approach. 

Meanwhile, unlike the Reds’ individual attempts, the French team defended, transitioned and attacked as a unit, they were rewarded with a victory. But their victory could be even sweeter, if they weren’t lacking the clinical finishing, especially with their most recent Ballon D’or winner. It’s safe to say that only a 2-goal deficit can be considered a generous gift to the Reds from the reigning champs on their way to the return game at Anfield.

(Image credit to lemonde.fr)

In summary, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool faced each other once again in France. The winner of this match-up and the semi-finalists that will face either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich will be determined next week at Anfield.  

Article written by Emre Albas © Emre Albas 2026