Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) made a statement in European football, defeating Liverpool in a dramatic penalty shootout at Anfield to secure a spot in the Champions League quarterfinals. The crucial goal that forced extra time came from Ousmane Dembélé, whose stellar form continues to shine.

Dembélé’s brilliance on full display

Trailing from the first leg, Luis Enrique’s PSG arrived in England with one goal in mind—level the tie and push for extra time, eventually leading to penalties. And it all hinged on Dembélé’s vital goal, which brought his tally to 21 goals in 16 matches across all competitions in 2025—a number unmatched by any player in Europe’s top leagues.

To put it into perspective, Dembélé has six more goals than Kylian Mbappé, placing him at the top of the scoring charts ahead of his PSG teammate.

Liverpool vs. PSG: A battle at Anfield

Considered one of the best teams this season, Liverpool saw their Champions League journey come to an end at the hands of an impressive PSG. The Parisians outplayed the Reds over two legs, securing their quarterfinal ticket with a flawless penalty shootout performance.

Five years after their painful Champions League exit against Atlético Madrid, Liverpool suffered another heartbreak at Anfield. Despite creating numerous chances, PSG’s resilience and tactical intelligence proved decisive. Now, they await their quarterfinal opponent, either Aston Villa or Club Brugge.

Dembélé strikes first, Salah struggles

PSG took control early, delivering a major blow in the 12th minute when Ousmane Dembélé, with help from Ibrahima Konaté, scored the opening goal. Before that, Mohamed Salah had two golden opportunities—one blocked by Nuno Mendes and another sent wide from close range.

Luis Enrique’s squad had further chances to seal the game through Bradley Barcola and Dembélé, as well as a near-miss from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. However, their finishing let Liverpool stay in contention.

Liverpool pushed hard, but Donnarumma stood tall

Under Arne Slot, Liverpool fought back, with Luis Díaz having a goal ruled out for offside, Dominik Szoboszlai’s shot blocked by Piero Hincapié, and Jarell Quansah hitting the post. They also suffered a setback when Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off due to a concerning knee injury.

During extra time, PSG took control, but Alisson Becker made a stunning save to deny Dembélé in the dying moments. Donnarumma then stole the spotlight in the penalty shootout, saving a crucial attempt while Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones missed, sealing Liverpool’s fate.

PSG marches on to the quarterfinals

With this hard-fought victory, PSG emerges as a strong contender for the Champions League title. Now, Luis Enrique’s team will face either Aston Villa or Club Brugge in the next round, as they continue their quest for European glory.