Paris Saint-Germain secured a 2-0 victory over Liverpool in their Champions League quarter-final first leg, but missed chances from Ousmane Dembele and Nuno Mendes kept the tie alive.
Despite a dominant performance and goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, PSG's fullback Achraf Hakimi acknowledged they "kept Liverpool alive" by failing to convert all their opportunities. Midfielder Warren Zaire Emery echoed the sentiment, stating, "We could have scored more goals, which is a shame."
Coach Luis Enrique expressed disappointment with the scoreline, noting the team "played very well and deserved more goals." He added, "this is the Champions League. We’re happy, and there’s still the second leg to come."
Liverpool, employing a cautious five-man defense, survived long spells of pressure. Captain Virgil van Dijk highlighted the quality of PSG, acknowledging the "daunting" task ahead but expressing hope that the "Anfield faithful" can help turn the tie around. Manager Arne Slot pointed to Liverpool’s history and strong home support as reasons for belief, admitting their high-pressing strategy proved too risky, leading to a "survival mode" second half.