Back in February 2022 Liverpool sealed the League Cup trophy by beating Chelsea on penalties and Trent Alexander-Arnold posted a picture of him holding the trophy, captioned “1/4. Hungry for more…”. In the end, Liverpool would end the season with “just” the two domestic cups, missing out on the bigger prizes of the Premier League and Champions League. Neutrals, or certainly those less than keen on Liverpool, took pleasure in seeing Alexander-Arnold humbled.
Football, like life in general, has a habit of checking those who get ahead of themselves and expecting trophies before they are won is as wise as counting unhatched chickens. Three years on from the social media post mentioned, Liverpool have again come unstuck just as many fans were already planning their parties for an anticipated Reds treble in 2024/25.
Much as we have literally just cautioned against fans getting ahead of themselves, we have to say that the Premier League crown is surely heading the way of Arne Slot’s side. The Reds sit a massive 15 points clear at the top at the time of writing, albeit having played a game more than the six teams behind them. But more, perhaps, than the advantage they have established, the fact that no team seems capable of mounting a serious challenge, means that the title is, surely, heading to Anfield.
If Arsenal could win their final 10 league games they would reach 85 points and that might give Liverpool something to think about. But the reality is that the Gunners, with their various injuries, just don’t look up to it. So, the league is in the bag and the Reds face another League Cup final this weekend, so they could well walk away with a double, of sorts. Newcastle will provide a tough test but Slot’s men are favourites and a league and EFL Cup double would be a brilliant achievement in the Dutch manager’s first season at the club. The treble dream, however, is over.
Liverpool Lose on Penalties
Liverpool performed the ultimate smash-and-grab raid in the first leg, winning 1-0 in Paris despite being thoroughly outclassed for pretty much the whole game. Alisson was superb and made nine saves in that clash, the hosts mustering 27 shots. Liverpool had just two, and the second of those did not come until the 87th minute. It did, however, result in a goal, and with Harvey Elliott earning Slot’s men the win, the Reds started the return leg as huge favourites to progress.
The manner and totality of PSG’s dominance in the first game meant that it would have been foolish to write them off but most experts believed that the famous Anfield atmosphere would mean the Reds would prove too strong on home soil. Moreover, of course, they only required a draw.
Liverpool started well in a game that was fast and frenetic and saw both teams threaten. The hosts definitely had the better of things though and really should have led. Mo Salah missed a glorious chance after just five minutes, though there was an excellent block from Nuno Mendes to deflect his effort over. A minute later the Egyptian again went close and with 10 minutes gone Virgil van Dijk might have done better with a header.
The first leg showed how important it is in football for a side to score when they are on top but Liverpool looked like they might be in danger of repeating PSG’s errors of the first leg. And so it proved after just 12 minutes when the French side took the lead with a well-worked counter. The red-hot Ousmane Dembele was left with a tap-in when a dangerous ball from the right caused chaos in the middle. Ibrahima Konate slid in to intercept the cross but could only cushion the ball away from his keeper and into the path of the PSG attacker. 1-0 on the night, 1-1 on aggregate, it was very much game on.
Both sides continued to have chances and amazingly the first half saw Liverpool post an xG of more than one and PSG one of 2.03, yet remain 1-0 to the visitors. Liverpool had more possession and more of the play but Luis Enrique’s men looked so dangerous on the counter. The Reds were pressing high and in numbers, overloading the press, and they frequently made PSG’s backline look wobbly. But when the French side were able to beat that press, they were almost instantly into the Liverpool defence.
The second half followed a similar pattern but was far cagier, with fewer clear chances. Liverpool looked far more likely to get a goal but their opponents defended with a resolution and steel that has rarely been associated with PSG.
Extra Time and Penalties
The first period of extra time was a little like the second half of normal time, though PSG gradually came into the ascendency. There were few, if any, real chances, with the home side managing just a single shot, to PSG’s three.
The second period of extra time saw the visitors gain even more control and they might well have won it. They had a number of half chances and managed eight shots to Liverpool’s zero. Enrique’s men saw 73% of the ball in that final 15 minutes of football and it began to look like the hosts were playing for penalties, the away side continuing to press. They could not find a way past Alisson though and so the game went to spotkicks.
Liverpool, of course, have a brilliant record from 12 yards and with home advantage were, again, big favourites. Over the years they have won several major finals on penalties and whilst there were nerves aplenty inside Anfield, the home fans would have had belief.
PSG took, and scored, the first penalty, Salah replied, and then the away side scored their second. Then, up stepped Darwin Nunez, and most inside the ground wearing red feared the worst. The Uruguayan, who featured from the bench and had been poor, saw his weak penalty saved. Advantage PSG.
Dembele made it 3-1 before Curtis Jones’ weak effort was saved. Desire Doue was the hero for PSG, taking the glory by making it 4-1 and putting his side through to a huge quarter final against Barcelona. For the home fans it was rare penalty heartache and Newcastle fans will be hoping there is a hangover from this defeat, especially as the Reds may have lost Konate and Alexander-Arnold to injury.