Is this the week when Arne Slot’s Liverpool faces the loss of two legs in a potential treble pursuit?

This was a disheartening outcome for the Reds, who endured the agony of a penalty shootout after an exhausting two hours of football, leaving them tired ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final against Newcastle.

Paris Saint-Germain’s goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma—the man who denied England in the Euro final shootout of 2021—saved attempts from Anfield scapegoat Darwin Nunez and substitute Curtis Jones, sending his team into a likely Champions League quarter-final against Aston Villa next month.

Liverpool has triumphed in seven major finals via penalties, including two European Cups, but this was the night their luck ran out from 12 yards.

Across both matches, PSG earned their progression; they overwhelmed Liverpool in an unlikely first-leg victory and became only the second team this season to triumph at Anfield.

After a classic European contest between England’s champions and the perennial kings of France, Slot’s squad faces a tough task to regain their energy for a Wembley showdown this weekend.

Ousmane Dembele netted the early goal that leveled the aggregate tie, and after numerous shifts in momentum, Paris held their nerve during the shootout.

Liverpool had been thoroughly dominated by Paris in the first leg, only saved from a heavy defeat by Alisson, who played like a blend of Lev Yashin and a divine figure.

It was as impressive a performance as any team could manage without scoring from Luis Enrique’s side—only for substitute Harvey Elliott to deliver a late blow.

Slot fielded the same starting lineup that endured the onslaught at the Parc des Princes, and the visitors remained unchanged as well.

Salah had been marked by Nuno Mendes last week, and he was denied an early opener by the same player within five minutes—Alexis Mac Allister squared for the Egyptian, whose shot was blocked over the bar by the PSG left-back.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot remarked that his team was “lucky” to overcome PSG.

Yet, having created more in 11 minutes than they did in 90 last week, Liverpool soon conceded.

A Mendes pass found Dembele in space, who released Bradley Barcola; his low ball to the near post caused confusion, with Ibrahima Konate sliding in and inadvertently wrong-footing Alisson, allowing Dembele to jump over the fallen keeper and tap in the loose ball.

This marked Dembele’s 21st goal this year—not just this season. He’s been more prolific than Salah.

Konate, who should have received a red card early in Paris, nearly redeemed himself with a long-range shot that Donnarumma turned wide.

It was an exhilarating back-and-forth match, with Alisson off his line to make a solid save from Barcola.

Dembele should have given Paris the aggregate lead when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia—who troubled Liverpool in France—released him with a precise through ball, but a poor touch allowed Alisson to gather.

Then it was Kvaratskhelia’s turn to waste a golden chance, seizing on Barcola’s cut-back but shooting over.

Next, Dembele had a curling shot deflected wide, and Liverpool appeared rattled.

Referee Istvan Kovacs consistently resisted the protests from The Kop, dismissing a penalty appeal just before halftime when Fabian Ruiz kicked Dominik Szoboszlai on the edge of the box.

Liverpool is known for raising their game in the second half, and immediately after the restart, Marquinhos received a booking for bringing down Luis Diaz as the hosts gained some momentum.

The Reds thought they had regained the lead when Trent Alexander-Arnold struck the inside of the post, and Szoboszlai found the net, only for the linesman to raise his flag, ruling Diaz offside earlier in the play.

This was a marked improvement from Slot’s squad, and Szoboszlai was soon thwarted again, his shot deflected wide by an excellent block from Pacho.

From the resulting corner, Donnarumma used his long reach to make a sprawling save from a header by Diaz.

For the first time in the entire tie, PSG found themselves seriously under pressure, with Liverpool attacking in waves.

Another decent penalty shout arose shortly after—Alexander-Arnold’s pass released Salah, who was pushed over on the edge of the box by Nunes, but Kovacs remained unmoved.

Slot brought on Darwin Nunez for Jota, and Jarell Quansah took over at right-back after Alexander-Arnold was forced off due to injury.

From an Andy Robertson free kick, Quansah headed against the inside of the post.

Nunez added unpredictability to the attack, and Diaz forced another good save from Donnarumma before Kvaratskhelia came close during a rare PSG counter.

In extra time, momentum shifted back to Paris—substitutes Beraldo and Desire Doue both went close early on, and Alisson made a fine save to deflect a shot from Dembele wide.