Dembele storms Anfield once again as PSG seal semi-final spot

Liverpool, England – For the second year running, Anfield has become Ousmane Dembélé’s personal stage of devastation. The Paris Saint-Germain forward, who broke Liverpool hearts in the Champions League round of 16 last season, repeated the trick on Merseyside to send Luis Enrique’s side into the semi-finals.

Twelve months ago Dembélé’s solitary second-leg strike levelled the aggregate score and PSG ultimately advanced via a penalty shootout. This time the visitors arrived with a commanding 2-0 lead from the first leg at the Parc des Princes, yet the tie was still alive until the Frenchman intervened.

Jürgen Klopp’s men emerged from the interval with intent, pinning PSG deep and fashioning a flurry of chances that went begging. On 67 minutes, against the run of play, Dembélé latched onto a swift counter, took one touch to settle and arrowed a low drive beyond the reach of Alisson Becker. The away end erupted; the Kop fell silent. At 3-0 on the night and 5-0 on aggregate, the contest was effectively over.

The goal typified Dembélé’s big-match pedigree: explosive pace, ice-cold composure and a finish that leaves Liverpool contemplating another European exit at the hands of the same tormentor.

PSG now march on to the last four, while Liverpool are left to rue missed opportunities and the haunting familiarity of Dembélé’s decisive intervention.