UCL: Players at fault as PSG defeat Liverpool in England
Liverpool’s hopes of advancing in the Champions League were dashed on Tuesday night as Paris Saint-Germain triumphed over them in a dramatic penalty shootout at Anfield.
Here are the players to blame;
Curtis Jones
Curtis Jones, who came on for Alexis Mac Allister at the start of extra time, struggled to make an impact.
The midfielder was caught on the ball multiple times, gifting PSG chances to attack and missed a penalty in the shootout.
Darwin Nunez
Darwin Nunez, introduced for Diogo Jota in the 70th minute, was expected to provide a spark for Liverpool.
However, the striker failed to trouble the PSG defense significantly. To make matters worse, Nunez missed his penalty during the shootout, sealing Liverpool’s fate.
Ryan Gravenberch
Ryan Gravenberch, who had a decent first half, was caught out of position and failed to provide the necessary defensive cover in the second.
He made a vital clearance off the line but was often slow to react, allowing PSG to dominate large portions of the midfield.
Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk was unusually shaky.
The Dutchman made a few uncharacteristic mistakes and failed to lead his defense effectively. His calm demeanor seemed to be a hindrance, as he couldn’t inspire his defensive partners to rise to the occasion.
Ibrahima Konate:
Ibrahima Konate failed to intercept a crucial cross before PSG’s opening goal and looked disorganized alongside van Dijk.
Despite testing PSG’s goalkeeper with a long-range shot, Konate’s defensive lapses left Liverpool vulnerable throughout the match.
Read also:NiMet declares severe heat in 18 states across Nigeria
Mohamed Salah:
Salah had opportunities to put Liverpool ahead but couldn’t capitalize.
An early chance was blocked by Nuno Mendes, and a later attempt curled wide.
Despite his efforts, he struggled to get the better of PSG’s defense throughout the match.
