UCL: Kvaratskhelia, Doue fire PSG past Liverpool

Liverpool’s Champions League hopes are hanging in the balance after a demoralising defeat by reigning European champions Paris St-Germain, their 16th loss of the season.

Desire Doue’s deflected strike looped over the head of Giorgi Mamardashvili to give the Ligue 1 leaders the lead, before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled their advantage with a moment of brilliance.

It means the Reds, who failed to register an attempt on target, have it all to do to stay in the competition in the quarter-final second leg at Anfield next Tuesday.

But PSG took the lead in the 11th minute, and dominated throughout, amid another muddled performance by Arne Slot’s side that raised more questions than answers.

After suffering a four-goal mauling by Manchester City in their previous game, Liverpool appeared to be on a damage limitation exercise and started with a five-man defence in the French capital.

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Mamardashvili, standing in for injured first-choice Alisson, was beaten by 20-year-old Doue’s finish from inside just the box, which took a wicked deflection off Virgil van Dijk and flew over the keeper into the net.

Mamardashvili recovered to make some key saves and keep Liverpool in the tie, including a fine one-handed stop to deny Georgia team-mate Kvaratskhelia before repelling Doue after the Reds were carved open.

But Liverpool did fall further behind when Kvaratskhelia added PSG’s second with a lovely piece of skill after rounding the keeper from Joao Neves’ defence-splitting pass.

It could have been worse for Liverpool when Warren Zaire-Emery went down after a challenge by Ibrahima Konate – but the penalty decision was overturned after the official watched the incident again on the pitchside monitor.

Konate was then fortunate not to be penalised for shoving Nuno Mendes in the area in stoppage time.

Ousmane Dembele also missed three glorious chances, the first when he shot straight at Mamardashvili, the second when he blazed over the bar and then when he hit the woodwork after a mistake by Jeremie Frimpong late on.

Liverpool sent on Alexander Isak for his first taste of action since December after injury but face an almighty challenge to overturn PSG’s advantage in six days’ time.

While Paris St-Germain have a free weekend to prepare for Tuesday’s return leg at Anfield, Liverpool will be looking to end a run of three Premier League games without a win when they host Fulham on Saturday (17:30 BST).