On March 11, 2025, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) faced off at Anfield for the second leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 matchup, with both teams vying for progress to the quarter-finals. After Liverpool's initial victory with a late goal from Harvey Elliott, the stakes were high as PSG aimed to overcome their first-leg defeat.
The clash began with both teams maintaining their starting lineups from the first game, which had seen Liverpool triumph with the lone goal scoring from Elliott just before full-time. This time, PSG sought to reverse their fortunes, and as the match unfolded, they demonstrated resilience and adaptability before their traveling supporters.
Immediately, the intensity was palpable, with Liverpool pressing aggressively. Just moments after kickoff, stars Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai linked up, showcasing some promising chances, but it was PSG who struck first. At the 12-minute mark, PSG's Ousmane Dembélé capitalized on defensive miscommunication to score, connecting with Nuno Mendes’ pass and briefly silencing the home fans by equalizing the aggregate score at 1-1.
Despite the early setback, Liverpool continued their onslaught, with Salah missing two early opportunities. Meanwhile, PSG began finding their rhythm, utilizing counterattacks effectively. Dembélé nearly doubled the lead for PSG, but Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker was on hand to thwart several attempts, reinforcing his reputation as one of the premier shot-stoppers.
Entering the 40th minute, another chance arose for Dembélé, whose effort was deflected narrowly off-target. Similarly, Liverpool's attempts to regain the momentum saw several sequences result in promising leads but little reward. A first-half goal from Szoboszlai was annulled due to offside, leaving the score locked at 1-1 at halftime.
After the break, Liverpool continued pressing, and their efforts bore fruit again. Trent Alexander-Arnold launched shot after shot, only for each attempt to meet resistance from PSG's defense and the hands of goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. At the 54th minute, they thought they had scored again but were denied by another offside call.
Nevertheless, the match underwent another twist when both teams reached full time still at 1-1 after extra time, leading to the dreaded penalty shootout. PSG's Donnarumma stepped up to the challenge, saving decisive penalties from Liverpool's Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones, showcasing incredible reflexes and positioning. His brilliance earned him the Player of the Match title, as he played a pivotal role during this tense shootout.
Dembélé was among the successful penalty takers for PSG, propelling his team to victory and securing their spot in the quarter-finals with a 4-1 win on penalties. Post-match, manager Luis Enrique praised the character shown by his squad, highlighting the nerve required to compete at Anfield. He noted, "Winning here is never easy, and overturning the first leg's defeat proved challenging, but our efforts paid off." PSG's advancement highlighted their resilience, particularly after learning from their previous encounter where they outperformed Liverpool yet failed to leave with the result they desired.
The fixture reflected the high stakes of European football, where each moment counts and every player must step up. Alisson and Donnarumma were center stage as goalkeepers, each delivering performances worthy of the occasion, yet it was the Italian who triumphed when it mattered most.
Looking forward, PSG will bring this momentum as they enter the next round, where they would like to continue proving their status among Europe’s elite. Liverpool, on the other hand, finds themselves on the outside of the knockout rounds, forced to regroup and re-evaluate as they push through the remainder of their season.