Dembélé delivers knockout double as PSG end Liverpool’s European dream

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The damage done in Paris proved irretrievable.Ousmane Dembélé, so wasteful in the first leg at Parc des Princes, put the quarter-final beyond any doubt with a clinical late finish to ensure there would be no famous European comeback from Liverpool on this occasion. Dembélé inflicted further punishment with a second goal from Bradley Barcola’s second assist in stoppage time.There was a period of silence before kick-off as Liverpool remembered the 97 fans who were unlawfully killed at Hillsborough on the eve of the 37th anniversary of the disaster.

Liverpool’s pressing game was also far more effective, resulting in numerous loose passes in the PSG midfield, while Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes were unable to raid from full-back as effectively as they did in the first leg.For all of the encouragement that Anfield took from their team’s energetic start, the visitors should still have taken the lead and strengthened their hold on the quarter-final when catching Liverpool cold with a quick throw-in. It was another terrible miss by the player who was chiefly responsible for keeping Liverpool alive in the first leg.Ousmane Dembélé slots home Paris Saint-Germain’s second goal in stoppage time.

Ryan Gravenberch began to wrestle control of midfield away from PSG with his surging runs from deep.Gakpo tested Safonov from distance, Gomez headed over from the resulting corner, Gravenberch went close and Kerkez volleyed wide of the far post when picked out by a delightful Salah pass.Liverpool were given a lifeline when the referee, Maurizio Mariani, awarded them a penalty for a foul by Willian Pacho on Alexis Mac Allister. Liverpool’s hope was extinguished when the PSG substitute Barcola broke down the left and found Kvaratskhelia.