Liverpool – Paris Saint-Germain: Dembele Brace Ensures PSG Edge Past Reds At Anfield (0-2, 0-4 Agg)

PSG defeated Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield to qualify for the Champions League semi-finals. A brace from Ousmane Dembele ensured PSG got the victory to eliminate Liverpool despite a spell of sustained pressure from the Reds in the second half.

Tactical analysis and match report by Gaurav Krishnan.

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The stage was set at Anfield for PSG’s arrival with the crowd inside Anfield hoping to galvanise a comeback. However, PSG rode the storm and defeated the Reds on home turf to qualify for the UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

When it comes to Arne Slot, the Liverpool fan base is largely divided, with the bulk of fans questioning his tactics and credentials while the other side of fans willing to give him time. Slot’s first season in charge led to a dominative Premier League title triumph, however, despite splurging heavily in the summer transfer window, this season hasn’t panned out as expected.

The Reds have struggled in the Premier League, currently in 5th place in the table, while in this game against last season’s Champions League winners PSG, some questionable tactics from Slot in the first leg, led to Liverpool going into this game with having to turn over a two-goal deficit.


PSG have been consistent in Ligue 1 and that has also transferred to the Champions League where their possession-based style of play under Enrique has reaped rich dividends. PSG went into this game on the back of defeating Liverpool 2-0 at the Parc de Princes and slowly but surely asserted control over this game as well, as Ousmane Dembele struck later on in the second half and finished the game off in added time.

The first half was largely even but there was a spell of sustained pressure from Liverpool in the second half where they turned the screws and were camped in the PSG half creating wave after wave of attacks. However, the PSG defense stood firm and didn’t allow Liverpool to score. And once PSG rode that wave, they struck back through Dembele just after.

It was rather disappointing that Liverpool failed to score a single goal over the two legs against PSG. But that was also a testament to the mettle of the PSG defense, commanded by their captain Marquinhos. In the end, Liverpool were eliminated at Anfield and PSG made it into the semi-finals of this season’s Champions League where they will face a formidable Bayern Munich side.


Liverpool lined up in a 4-2-2-2 shape. Giorgi Mamardashvilia started in goal while Jeremie Frimpong started at right-back, Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Djik started at center-back and Milos Kerkez started at left-back. Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister anchored the midfield double pivot, Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz started as the dual AMs, while Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike started as the two forwards.

PSG lined up in a 4-3-3 formation. Matvey Safonov started in goal with a back four of Achraf Hakimi at right-back, Marquinhos and Willian Pacho at center-back and Nuno Mendes at left-back. The midfield three comprised Vitinha, Joao Neves and Warren Zaire-Emery. While Desire Doue started on the right, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia down the left and Ousmane Dembele started as the central striker.

Both Sides Cancel Each Other Out In The First Half

Liverpool’s in-possession build-up under Slot’s 4-2-2-2 aimed for central overloads and vertical progression through the double pivot of Gravenberch and Mac Allister, with Szoboszlai and Wirtz operating as dual attacking midfielders to link with split strikers Isak and Ekitike. Frimpong and Kerkez pushed high as attacking full-backs to stretch PSG’s 4-3-3, creating width while the AMs dropped or rotated to form temporary 3 or 4-man midfield units in the half-spaces. Liverpool’s 4-2-2-2 dynamically shifted to a 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-3 diamond shape on the ball in build-up. This shape sought to bypass PSG’s midfield trio via quick combinations or direct passes into the Liverpool forwards, exploiting the space behind PSG’s high line.

Liverpool in their dynamic IP 3-4-3 diamond shape shitfting from a a 4-2-2-2. Liverpool have a 4v3 advantage in central midfield as Szoboszlai is the free man in the pivot while the other Liverpool midfielders are marked by PSG’s midfield trio. Meanwhile, Hakimi pushes high to press Kerkez as Frimpong advances on the opposite flank. Up front Isak and Ekitike are marked man to man by Marquinhos and Pacho. 

However, PSG’s intelligent zonal pressing and midfield rotations frequently forced Liverpool into predictable patterns, with Isak particularly isolated with just five touches before half-time substitution for Gakpo. Build-up often stalled in the middle third, as PSG’s compact 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 out-of-possession OOP blocks denied easy progression lanes for the Reds.

PSG, under Luis Enrique, deployed a fluid 4-3-3 in possession that used positional rotations rather than fixed roles, allowing Vitinha and Neves to drop deep as connectors while Zaire-Emery advanced higher up the pitch. Hakimi and Nuno Mendes provided overlapping width, with Desire Doue (right) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (left) tucking into half-spaces to create overloads. Dembele as the central striker roamed laterally, acting as a false 9 to pull Liverpool’s centre-backs Konate and Van Dijk out of position.

The midfield battle defined the first half. Liverpool’s double pivot faced PSG’s midfield three, with Vitinha and Neves excelling in rotation to create numerical superiority in the middle of the pitch. This happened when Liverpool reverted to a 4-2-2-2 or 4-2-3-1 instead of their 3-4-3, the latter where they had the +1 in midfield.

Gravenberch advanced occasionally to shoot or link, but PSG’s Zaire-Emery provided defensive cover while allowing Vitinha freedom to roam and playmake. Central overloads from Szoboszlai & Wirtz gave Liverpool brief moments of impetus but lacked precision. Ekitike’s early injury (an achilles injury, later confirmed by reports) forced Salah on at the 32 minute mark, shifting the right-side dynamic and injecting creativity.

Liverpool sought overloads via Wirtz & Szoboszlai dropping into pockets, Frimpong & Kerkez bombing on to create 2v1s wide, and the pivot screening and splitting to receive. Yet PSG’s 4-3-3 rotations with the full-backs inverting disrupted this; Hakimi and Mendes neutralised the Liverpool full-backs effectively. Out of possession, Liverpool’s 4-2-2-2 became a 4-4-2 press, but PSG’s patient circulation and quick switches often in a 3-2-5 build-up shape rendered it ineffective. Enrique’s side controlled tempo, dropping deeper later in the game to invite pressure while keeping counters live.

PSG controlled the “controllables,” as Enrique later stated, defending deeply when needed and waiting for Liverpool to leave space. Key events suggested some amount of tactical friction. Liverpool started fast, aiming for the Anfield “trap,” but PSG’s early compactness limited chances. Mamardashvili saved from Dembele in the 10th minute. And the biggest chance for Liverpool came in the 31st minute when Van Dijk’s shot from just in front of the goal mouth was emphatically blocked by Marquinhos.

Liverpool Apply Sustained Pressure In A Spell In The Second Half

After Salah and Gakpo’s introduction, with Gakpo coming on after halftime for Isak. Liverpool mounted some sustained pressure on PSG camped in the Parisian side’s half for a long spell of sustained attafcks. The Reds created wave after wave of attack, fashioning chances for Salah, Gakpo, Gomes, Soboszlai, Gravenberch and Mac Allister and later Rio Ngumoha after he came on in the 67th minute and all were close calls.

However, the PSG defense held firm and made essential last ditch blocks and just stayed compact & robust denying Liverpool from scoring. PSG’s OOP compactness frequently a 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 block absorbed Liverpool’s pressure, rewarding Enrique’s ploy to invite the press high, then punish with speed on the break.

This was Liverpool’s best spell of play over the two legs but they couldn’t be decisive in the final third or finish clinically and convert their pressure and chances into goals. However, credit must be given to the PSG backline who held firm and resolute despite a lengthy siege by Liverpool with Anfield in fine voice.

Dembele Seals It On The Break

In the midst of Liverpool’s sustained pressure, there was a VAR call for a penalty for a foul on Alexis Mac Allister. Mac Allister was fouled by Pacho, and the referee initially awarded the penalty but it was overturned by VAR.

PSG’s press changed after half-time when Enrique brought on Hernandez and Barcola for the injured Mendes and Doue respectively. Enrique changed the PSG press after the subs, especially to deny central overloads Liverpool had in the second half. Dembele and Barcola led the press up front. Meanwhile, Kvaratskhelia aimed to occupy one of the midfielders in the Liverpool pivot, as Hernandez jumped to Gomez aggressively and likewise Hakimi on Kerkez.

PSG’s press change in the 2nd half after Enrique’s subs. Dembele and Barcola lead the press by pressing Van Dijk and Konate. Kvaratskhelia is tasked with marking the Liverpool pivot, in this case Szoboszlai. Meanwhile, Neves was tasked with man marking Wirtz, as Hakimi jumps on Kerkez, Hernandez on Gomez and Pacho on Salah, as Marquinhos stayed tight on Gakpo.

PSG would spring to life shortly after. The 72nd-minute PSG goal highlighted their counter-attacking efficiency. Barcola, who came on as a sub for the injured Doue in the 53rd minute, and Kvaratskhelia combined on the left; the Georgian clipped a pass to Dembele at the edge of the box. Dembele then scored a precise left-footed curler from outside the box into the far corner. This was a classic Enrique tactic of absorbing pressure in a deep block, and then using a vertical overload on the break with Kvaratskhelia’s vision and Dembele’s finishing. Liverpool’s press had overcommitted centrally, exposing the left channel as Dembele scored his first.

The late changes saw Liverpool creating a more fluid, attacking 4-2-2-2 to 4-2-3-1 variant with Ngumoha driving forward and forcing saves and corners. The Reds’ pressing intensity peaked, but precision in the final third was left wanting with several under-hit passes, poor touches, and wasteful shots. PSG defended deep, with Safonov instrumental in claims and blocks, apart from PSG’s defense largely staying compact and blocking shots, while maintaining transition threats.

The 90+1′ goal by PSG sealed the game. Kvaratskhelia eased the ball to Barcola, whose low cross was tapped home by Dembele. It was yet another clinical exploitation of space as Liverpool chased the equaliser, and with PSG’s OOP preventing any sustained late siege, there was little left in the tank for the Reds. And that was effectively the game.

Takeaways

Overall, Liverpool will be largely disappointed with their performance over both legs. Slot’s first leg back five and their abysmal away leg performance at the Parc de Princes was bad enough, and only for a brief spell of 20 minutes in the second half in the second leg at Anfield did they really pressure PSG and look like the Liverpool of last season. However, they couldn’t be clinical and convert their pressure and chances into goals. In the end PSG scored on the break, and Liverpool were knocked out by the PSG suckerpunch. Scoring no goals in either leg will certainly be a key talking point, and in the end PSG were the better side over the two legs. Nevertheless, this was yet another disappointment for Slot and Liverpool this season which hasn’t quite worked out well for the Dutch manager.

For PSG, this second leg did create moments where it looked like Liverpool could come back in the tie. However, credit must be given to the PSG backline marshalled by Marquinhos and Safonov’s command in goal. PSG rode the Liverpool storm and then scored on counter-attacks to seal the tie in this second leg with last year’s Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Demble showing why he’s so important for the Parisians. PSG bossed the first leg and got over the line in the second leg, and winning 4-0 on aggregate in the end against Liverpool made them deserved winners. PSG now play Bayern Munich in the semi-final, in what promises to be a mouth-watering clash of arguably the best two teams in the competition this season.

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