Painful reality for Liverpool is that PSG deserved to go through.
There are a lot of emotional inquests going on about Liverpool being knocked out of the Champions League by Paris St-Germain. Of course it’s painful. Liverpool’s relationship with Europe’s elite competition is an affair of the heart. Liverpool dominated the elongated league stage, have one of the best players in the world in Mo Salah, have other players delivering too, are closing on the Premier League title, and yet are out of Europe. It’s painful because it might be the last they see of Salah in Europe for them. And also Trent Alexander-Arnold. But to move forward you have to put aside the pain, the tribal perspective, and acknowledge reality. The simple truth is that Liverpool deserved to be knocked out. PSG were better over both legs.
Only a masterclass of shot-stopping by Alisson, making nine saves, kept Liverpool in the tie at Parc des Princes. Tuning in to events at Anfield last night, it was very clear that PSG were quicker than Liverpool, pressing harder, countering more effectively. They are far more of a strong collective unit than in the Neymar era. They work harder. Nuno Mendes won his duel with Salah. Vitinha dominated midfield. Ousmane Dembele is among the top five players in the world at the moment. He’s a threat whether through the middle or wide.