Liverpool’s Champions League dream was shredded by the boots of Ousmane Dembele.
Arne Slot’s side threw everything at this second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain but couldn’t find the quality required.
Anfield roared on wave after wave of attack but the fans couldn’t will their club to overturn a deficit like they have done in the past.
And with two swishes of his boot, first in the 72nd minute and second in the 91st, Dembele finished them off. Two-nil to PSG on the night and 4-0 on aggregate – a comprehensive beating.
Lewis Steele was at Anfield and he brings you our player ratings.
Ousmane Dembele (left) struck twice to down Liverpool in the Champions League
Liverpool
Giorgi Mamardashvili – 6
Could do nothing about either of Dembele’s second-half goals. Distribution let him down at times in the first half.
Jeremie Frimpong – 6
Contained Kvaratskhelia well in the first half and got forward well but was subbed at the break for Gomez. Hopefully for his sake it is not another injury.
Ibrahima Konate – 8 (Booked)
Has been criticised this season but this was a strong display against a top team. Konate, a Parisian himself, can be proud of his efforts.
Virgil van Dijk – 7
The same as above, captain Van Dijk made some vital interceptions and was unlucky not to score on the half-hour mark.
Virgil van Dijk made some vital interceptions and was unlucky not to bag a goal
Milos Kerkez – 7.5
Bang up for the challenge against Doue on that side and came out on top time and again. Unlucky with attacking output.
Ryan Gravenberch – 7
Some brilliant drives through midfield but final ball or shot was often wayward.
Alexis Mac Allister – 6.5
The ball often fell for him on the edge of the box and one expected him to shoot but it just was not his night despite his best efforts.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 6.5
Put himself around and never stopped running. A couple of moments where he made the wrong decision in the final third.
Florian Wirtz – 7
Seemed up for the challenge and got on the ball lots in the first half. Could not find the decisive pass, though.
Florian Wirtz was well-involved but couldn’t find the moment of quality he needed
Alexander Isak played roughly half the match and did well but still looks short of sharpness
Alexander Isak – 6
Was inches offside when poked through and nearly scored halfway through the first half. Some good work off the ball but still not fully sharp.
Hugo Ekitike – 6.5
Night – and perhaps season – cruelly ended prematurely when he went down unchallenged and needed to be stretchered off. Was playing well until then.
Substitutes
Mohamed Salah (for Ekitike, 31min) – 6
Cody Gakpo (for Isak, 46) – 6
Joe Gomez (for Frimpong, 46) – 6
Rio Ngumoha (for Gomez, 67) – 6
Curtis Jones (for Mac Allister, 74) – 6
Not used: Woodman, Misciur, Chiesa, Robertson, Nyoni, Nallo.
Manager: Arne Slot – 7
Made some big calls with his selection and on another night would have got more than this.
Arne Slot’s selection calls created plenty of chances – on another night the score would have been different
PSG (4-2-3-1): Safonov 8; Hakimi 6.5, Marquinhos 8, Pacho 7, Mendes 6 (Hernandez 38, 6); Zaire-Emery 7 (Beraldo 81), Vitinha 7.5, Neves 7.5; Doue 7 (Barcola 52, 6), DEMBELE 8.5, Kvaratskhelia 7.
Subs not used: Chevalier, Marin, Fernandez, Kang-In, Mayulu, Mbaye, Ramos, Zabarnyi.
Booked: None.
Scorers: Dembele 72, 90+2.
Manager: Luis Enrique 7.
Referee: Maurizio Mariani (Ita) – 7
Got it right to overturn Liverpool’s soft penalty.
