PSG take control of tie with dominant first-leg win over Liverpool | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Champions League hopes are hanging in the balance after a disappointing 2-0 defeat to reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their quarter-final in Paris.

Arne Slot’s side struggled to impose themselves from the start and fell behind early when Désiré Doué’s effort took a heavy deflection off Virgil Van Dijk and looped over stand-in goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

The Reds failed to respond, rarely threatening going forward and finishing the match without a shot on target.

PSG continued to dominate proceedings and came close to extending their lead before the break, with Mamardashvili producing several important saves to keep Liverpool within reach of the tie.

However, the hosts eventually doubled their advantage midway through the second half when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia produced a moment of quality, rounding the keeper after a perfectly timed pass from João Neves before finishing calmly.

The French champions could have added further goals, with Ousmane Dembélé missing a series of good chances and also striking the woodwork late on.

Liverpool introduced Alexander Isak for his first appearance since December as they searched for a response, but the visitors never found any rhythm. They now face a huge task at Anfield next week if they are to overturn the deficit and keep their European campaign alive.