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Dembele the difference as PSG breeze past Liverpool into Champions League final four

Looking to successfully overturn a 2+ goal first-leg deficit in the UCL for the first time since their remarkable 4-0 win over Barcelona here in 2018/19, Liverpool were roared forward by the home crowd.

Despite a lively start, their opponents had the first real sighter when Giorgi Mamardashvili backpedalled to stop Ousmane Dembele from catching him off his line.

The next opportunity also went the way of the Ballon D’Or holder, though he could only hook his effort over from close range, before Liverpool’s night was cast into more uncertainty when former PSG man Hugo Ekitike was forced off with injury.

But that meant the introduction of a certain Mohamed Salah, who almost made his mark just moments after coming on.

His cross was nodded down by Ibrahima Konate to Milos Kerkez, who was denied brilliantly by Matvey Safonov, before Marquinhos slid in to deny fellow skipper Virgil van Dijk from scrambling in the rebound.

The hosts found it difficult to better that chance heading into the break, leaving PSG no doubt satisfied to retain their advantage from the first leg.

Further changes were made by Slot at half-time, and his side looked better for it.

Cody Gakpo soon called Safonov into action, before Joe Gomez headed over in search of a first career goal.

Liverpool continued to push, and were unfortunate to see a penalty decision overturned by VAR after Willian Pacho took down Alexis Mac Allister.

Rio Ngumoha’s introduction promised a late push, but the Parisians dealt a cruel blow with less than 20 minutes remaining.

Dembele picked it up from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia outside the box, shifted onto his left, and bent his finish beyond the reach of Mamardashvili.

A couple of tame efforts were all Liverpool could muster, and PSG compounded their misery in stoppage time when Bradley Barcola slid the ball across for an unmarked Dembele to net his second.

Les Rouge-et-Bleu therefore dumped out a fifth English side from the UCL knockout stages across the last two seasons, and will surely be among the favourites to retain their title.

Now certain to go trophyless this season, Slot now faces a battle to ensure Liverpool finish in the Premier League’s top five, with failure to do so possibly seeing the Dutchman depart at the end of the campaign.

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