Arne Slot’s side left with mountain to climb at Anfield

By Simon Peach, Press Association Chief Football Writer, Paris

Liverpool’s Champions League hopes look bleak after Paris St Germain ran out deserved 2-0 victors against Arne Slot’s stumbling side in the quarter-final first leg in France.

The holders hosted the six-time European champions as these teams met in the knockout phase for the second successive season, albeit the Reds arrived in a far worse state than last year’s last-16 encounter.

Liverpool’s humiliating 4-0 FA Cup exit at Manchester City increased the pressure on Slot and his side ahead of the trip to Paris, where Desire Doue’s deflected early effort and an excellent Khvicha Kvaratskhelia goal secured victory.

Luis Enrique’s side are in control of the tie heading into Tuesday’s return fixture at Anfield, where the French champions would boast an even greater advantage were it not for some poor finishing and important stops by goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Liverpool showed spirit – something captain Virgil van Dijk felt they lacked at the Etihad Stadium – but were outclassed throughout by a PSG side who are well placed to win a fifth straight two-legged tie against English opposition.