Following last Wednesday's events in Paris, Liverpool reaching a 13th European Cup or Champions League semi-final, which would be a new English record, does appear unlikely. Arne Slot's team were comprehensively beaten 2-0 at the Parc des Princes, with Désiré Doué and then Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on target for the holders.
In truth, Luis Enrique and his team were disappointed not to score more, given how dominant les Rouge-et-Bleu were throughout.
Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 Liverpool statistics
Statistics | Paris Saint-Germain | Liverpool |
|---|---|---|
Expected goals | 2.35 | 0.17 |
Shots | 18 | 3 |
Shots on target | 6 | 0 |
Big chances | 4 | 0 |
Touches in opposition box | 40 | 9 |
Passes in final third | 166 | 61 |
Had it not been for Giorgi Mamardashvili's four saves as well as some wayward finishing from Ousmane Dembélé and others, this tie would already be over. In reality, the two-goal deficit means Liverpool still has hope. Anfield is, of course, famous for producing European comebacks, but is that truly based in reality, or more of an urban legend? Well, let's assess previous occasions the Reds have lost the first leg of a European tie by two or more goals to find out.
Liverpool European ties when losing the first leg by 2+ goals
- Europa League quarter-finals 2024: Liverpool 0-3 Atalanta. Lost 3-1 on aggregate.
- Champions League last 16 2023: Liverpool 2-5 Real Madrid. Lost 6-2 on aggregate.
- Champions League quarter-final 2021: Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool. Lost 3-1 on aggregate.
- Champions League semi-final 2019: Barcelona 3-0 Liverpool. Won 4-3 on aggregate.
- Europa League last 32 2013: Zenit Saint Petersburg 2-0 Liverpool. Lost 3-3 on away goals.
- Champions League quarter-final 2009: Liverpool 1-3 Chelsea. Lost 7-5 on aggregate.
- UEFA Cup third round 1998: Celta Vigo 3-1 Liverpool. Lost 4-1 on aggregate.
- UEFA Cup second round 1997: Strasbourg 3-0 Liverpool. Lost 3-2 on aggregate.
- Cup Winners' Cup semi-final 1997: PSG 3-0 Liverpool. Lost 3-2 on aggregate.
- Cup Winners' Cup second round 1992: Spartak Moscow 4-2 Liverpool. Lost 6-2 on aggregate.
- UEFA Cup quarter-final 1992: Genoa 2-0 Liverpool. Lost 4-1 on aggregate.
- UEFA Cup second round 1991: Auxerre 2-0 Liverpool. Won 3-2 on aggregate.
- European Cup quarter-final 1983: Widzew Łódź 2-0 Liverpool. Lost 4-3 on aggregate.
- UEFA Super Cup Final 1978: Anderlecht 3-1 Liverpool. Lost 4-3 on aggregate.
- European Cup first round 1978: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Liverpool. Lost 2-0 on aggregate.
- European Cup second round 1966: Ajax 5-1 Liverpool. Lost 7-3 on aggregate.
Last Wednesday was the 17th occasion Liverpool have been beaten in the first leg of a European tie by two or more goals, and history does not suggest that a turnaround is likely. In fact, across the previous 16 times this has happened, the Reds have only recovered to prevail twice.
13 of these 16 defeats have been on the road, thereby seeking a comeback at Anfield, including the two occasions they have pulled it off. Firstly, back in October 1991, Graeme Souness' side lost 2-0 at Stade Abbé-Deschamps, but managed to beat Auxerre 3-0 a fortnight later, thanks to goals from Jan Mølby, Mike Marsh and then Mark Walters.
Slightly more famously, back in 2019, following a 3-0 hammering at Camp Nou, Jürgen Klopp's side, against all odds, demolished Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield, Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum both bagging braces, en route to winning the Champions League in Madrid. Anyone who remembers that remontada will believe anything is possible on a European night at Anfield.
Well, this clash with PSG marks ten years since another famous European result. A decade ago, during Klopp's first half season, the Reds found themselves in need of three goals in half an hour against Borussia Dortmund. Step forward Philippe Coutinho, Mamadou Sakho and then Dejan Lovren with a towering header in injury time as they dumped out die Schwarzgelben, going on to feature in that year's Europa League Final at St. Jakob-Park.
Well, trying to produce a comeback of this magnitude against the reigning Champions League holders is a different level of difficulty level altogether. History suggests this is not going to happen, but you just never know, do you?
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