Mohamed Salah couldn’t hold back the tears as Liverpool's hopes of winning the Champions League for the second time were dashed. The Egyptian forward's dream now lies in tatters, especially with Liverpool's absence in the later stages of the competition making the prestigious Ballon d’Or seem increasingly out of reach, regardless of Salah's domestic record-breaking achievements. The emotional weight of the match was felt by many, including Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones, who were inconsolable after their penalties were saved by Paris Saint-Germain’s shootout hero, Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Adding to the disappointment, Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off the pitch with an ankle injury in the second half, requiring a scan to assess the damage before Sunday’s crucial Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United at Wembley. A crestfallen Ibrahima Konate struggled with cramp, while goalkeeper Alisson wore the expression of disbelief after showcasing his brilliance throughout the tie, only to end up on the losing side.
Typically, captain Virgil van Dijk attempted to lift the spirits of his teammates, who looked physically and emotionally drained. For head coach Arne Slot, the defeat brought with it an unwanted piece of history, as Liverpool was eliminated from Europe for the first time after winning the first leg away from home. This also marked the first instance where the six-time winners lost a penalty shootout in the Champions League, having previously triumphed in the finals of 1984 and 2005, as well as the 2007 semi-final against Chelsea.
The European journey that had promised so much ultimately delivered little. Liverpool had initially set the stage for success, winning seven consecutive matches in the revamped league phase, claiming impressive victories against German champions Bayer Leverkusen and Spanish champions Real Madrid. However, finishing top offered scant reward, as they faced an impressive PSG side that proved to be one of the toughest opponents possible.
Having returned from Paris last week with a 1-0 lead, Liverpool's luck ran out in the return leg. If only Salah had been more clinical during the early exchanges when Liverpool dominated the contest before Ousmane Dembele opened the scoring against the run of play. Late in normal time, substitute Jarell Quansah's header bounced off the inside of the post; an offside flag had been wrongly raised, and the goal could have stood. Ultimately, the match came down to fine margins, and the better team over the two legs progressed to the quarter-finals.
“This was the best game of football I have ever been involved in. Incredible intensity,” Slot remarked post-match. He noted that while Liverpool may not have deserved to lose the game, the overall result across both legs reflected the competition's brutal nature. He suggested that the league's top team facing the lowest-ranked team after the playoff round could create a fairer scenario, acknowledging the difficulty of facing PSG.
Slot now finds himself in uncharted territory during his Liverpool tenure. This defeat marked their fifth in 46 matches across all competitions, but none cut as deep as this one. Previous losses felt trivial in comparison, as Liverpool quickly recovered from setbacks in the Premier League and domestic cups. However, this defeat against PSG is likely to linger, and Slot and his coaching staff have significant work to do in the coming days to ensure morale remains high.
Reflecting on past performances, Slot reminded his players of their previous Champions League experiences: “If you have to go out, then go out in a way like we did against one of the best teams in Europe, fighting until the end.” With the upcoming Carabao Cup final against Newcastle gaining greater significance after their European exit, Liverpool aims to secure a record 11th title, shifting the focus from treble talks to potential double glory.
After the final, Liverpool will enjoy a 17-day break before returning to Premier League action against Everton, with the tantalizing prospect of clinching a 20th top-flight title within reach, as Arsenal trails by 15 points. While the loss to PSG was painful, it will not define their season. Slot's challenge now is to uplift the team’s spirits and ensure they are ready to claim the first piece of silverware of his management reign at Wembley.
