PSG 2-0 Liverpool: Doue & Kvara score to secure deserving first-leg lead for PSG

The reigning European champions Paris St-Germain put on a dominant performance in a 2-0 victory over Liverpool.

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.

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.

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 preventing Doue from a second after the Reds were carved open.

But Liverpool did fall further behind when Kvaratskhelia added the second with a lovely piece of skill after rounding the keeper after 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.

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.

Line-ups

PSG XI: Marquinhos, Dembele, Hakimi, Safonov, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Vitinha, Pacho, Nuno Mendes, Zaire-Emery, Doue, João Neves

Subs: Lucas, Kang-in Lee, Gonçalo Ramos, Ilya Zabarnyi, Lucas Chevalier, Beraldo, Dro Fernández, Mayulu, Renato Marin, Mbaye

Liverpool XI: Van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Konate, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Gravenberch, Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitiké, Milos Kerkez, Wirtz

Subs: Salah, Robertson, Freddie Woodman, Isak, Gakpo, Chiesa, Curtis Jones, Trey Nyoni, Kornel Misciur, Rio Ngumoha