Dembélé strike stalls Liverpool's fast start as tense tie goes the distance

The collision of two of the finest teams in Europe was so enthralling that Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain treated the continent to 30 minutes of extra time.

- Andy Hunter

Ousmane Dembélé levelled the last 16 tie on aggregate to give Luis Enrique's visitors victory after 90 minutes at Anfield, but not the progress the champions of France craved.

Liverpool will wonder how it got as far as extra time. Arne Slot's team delivered the vast improvement he had promised but were unable to cancel out Dembélé's opener to reach the quarter-finals in regulation time.

The opening 12 minutes at Anfield was the first leg in reverse. The dominator became the dominated as Liverpool started with an intensity and threat that was almost entirely absent at Parc des Princes. Mohamed Salah performed as though affronted by his 3-rating in L'Équipe, which he probably was. Luis Díaz was not far behind in bringing explosive menace from the left. Defensive composure was also evident from the off with Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk contemptuously brushing aside Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Bradley Barcola respectively when they first had opportunities to counter.