Enrique praises PSG, as Reds pay penalty

On top of Europe in January. Out of the Champions League by early March.

Liverpool's reward for dominating the competition's new-look league format was to run into a roadblock in the shape of Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.

Liverpool coach Arne Slot described his team as "so, so, so unlucky" to come up against "one of the best teams in Europe" after losing 4-1 in a penalty shootout at Anfield in Liverpool on Tuesday.

"That's the format we are in, and we have to accept it," he said.

The round-of-16 contest finished 1-1 on aggregate after Ousmane Dembele's first-half goal Tuesday canceled out Liverpool's 1-0 advantage from the first leg in Paris.

It is one of the quirks of the revamped Champions League that, despite topping the league phase with wins against European giants Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan, Liverpool then had to face a resurgent PSG squad, which had to rely on the lifeline of the playoffs to advance to this stage.

"We go out in a way that, I think, impressed Europe. But, it is something, now, to take into consideration, whether it is worth ending up first in the league table if you can face Paris Saint-Germain in the next round," Slot said. "But, in the end, if you want to win the tournament, you have to beat teams like Paris Saint-Germain, and that's what we didn't do today."

The PSG performance that triumphed at Anfield looked markedly different to the one that struggled in the early stages of the competition — when the team lost to Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich, as well as dropping points against PSV Eindhoven.

The French champion showed it was a threat by beating Manchester City 4-2 in January, and had dominated Liverpool in Paris before falling to a late sucker punch from Harvey Elliott.

It had to ride a storm at times in the second leg — including surviving a Jarell Quansah header that hit the post — but Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker also had to pull off a string of saves to keep the home team in contention.

"It was the best game of football I was ever involved in," Slot said.

'One of the best matches'

PSG coach Luis Enrique said both his team and Liverpool deserved a berth in the Champions League quarterfinals, such was the terrific, nail-biting battle between the two sides.

The Spaniard beamed with pride as his squad rallied from being a goal down after last week's first leg, to dispatch Premier League-leading Liverpool 4-1 in a penalty shootout.

"Both of the teams deserved to go to the next phase, they play better than us here, but I think my team at Anfield, in a special stadium, showed great personality and character," he said.

"We tried to play our best, but it was difficult, as they're so intense. Both teams deserved to qualify. The character and personality, even at the penalty shootout, they showed great character. I think it clearly shows the team we are."

Ligue 1 leader PSG has never won the Champions League, losing to Bayern Munich in the 2020 final, while 2019 winner Liverpool was considered the favorite to advance, after topping the table through the eight-game league phase.

"When the draw gave us the match between Liverpool and PSG, both managers thought the same — one of the best matches you can watch in Europe," Enrique said. "I think both teams were great.

"We are happy and confident going into the next phase."

PSG earned huge praise from pundits for its hard-fought victory.

"You've seen four perfect penalties under extreme pressure, you've got to give PSG big credit," former England striker Alan Shearer said on the Amazon Prime broadcast.

"The disappointment of losing that first game and playing really, really well. Then coming to Anfield, soaking up pressure and taking it to extra time and penalties — and then seeing those four perfect penalties — they've really put in a magnificent effort over the two games, and they'll say they deserve to go through."

Aston Villa or Club Brugge await in the last eight, with Kylian Mbappe's Madrid among the possible semifinal opponents.

"Good luck to whoever comes up against PSG," said Samir Nasri, the ex-France midfielder, now working as a pundit for Canal Plus, as he weighed up the possible winners of the competition.

"Barcelona can be magic in spells, but today, in terms of collective, as a team, for me it is PSG who have the best team."

It is also a young team — the average age of its starting lineup on Tuesday was under 25, compared to almost 28 for Liverpool.

Five of its starters were aged 24 or below, while substitutes Desire Doue and Warren Zaire-Emery are just 19.

"This is just the beginning," Enrique replied when asked if his side was now at its best.

Agencies