Paris Saint-Germain return to Anfield well placed to eliminate Liverpool from the UEFA Champions League for the second season in succession after a 2-0 first-leg success in their quarterfinal tie.
The French side beat Liverpool on penalties in the 2024/25 round of 16 en route to lifting the trophy for the first time and goals from Désiré Doué (11) and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (65) at Parc des Princes on 8 April have left Paris in pole position for another aggregate victory.
Last match
Paris prevailed 4-1 on penalties after each side had won 1-0 away in last season’s round of 16, Harvey Elliott scoring the only goal of the first leg at Parc des Princes and Ousmane Dembélé doing the same at Anfield.
That was the sides second knockout contest and Paris' second aggregate victory – they also won 3-2 on aggregate in the 1996/97 Cup Winners Cup semifinals (3-0 h, 0-2 a).
The teams were also paired together in the 2018/19 Champions League group stage, Liverpool winning 3-2 at Anfield before a 2-1 Paris success at Parc des Princes.
Liverpool have won seven of their last 12 matches against French teams (D1 L4), including 3-0 at Marseille on Matchday 7.
At home Liverpool have won 14 of their 18 matches against French opposition (D1 L3), though they did lose to Paris in the most recent.
The Reds have won five of their nine knockout ties against Ligue 1 teams.
None of Liverpool’s 37 matches against French teams finished goalless.
After beating Chelsea 5-2 at home and 3-0 away in this season’s round of 16, the first leg of this tie made it eight games unbeaten against Premier League clubs for Paris, who have lost only one of their last 11 matches involving English teams (W8 D2).
Paris have won their last four two-legged ties against English clubs. In addition to overcoming Chelsea this season, they beat Liverpool in last season’s round of 16, Aston Villa in the quarter finals (3-1 h, 2-3 a) and Arsenal in the semifinals (1-0 a, 2-1 h).
The Parisiens have won three of their last four away matches in England (L1).
Liverpool
This is Liverpool’s 17th Champions League campaign; they have reached the final five times lifting the trophy in 2005 and 2019.
The Merseysiders were first in last season’s league phase (W7 L1) but went out to eventual champions Paris in the round of 16.
A big European night at Anfield awaits ✊🔴 pic.twitter.com/t58McjcwVv
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 14, 2026
Paris
This is Paris’ 18th campaign in the Champions League proper. They have featured every season since 2012/13, reaching the knockout stages in the last 14 campaigns.
Fifteenth in last season’s league phase (W4 D1 L3), Luis Enrique’s side beat Brest (10-0 aggregate), Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal to reach the showpiece in Munich, where their 5- 0 win against Inter was the biggest final victory in European Cup history.
Key stats
Liverpool are in their 18th European Cup quarterfinal, one short of Manchester United's English record. They have won 12 of their previous 17, most recently beating Benfica 6-4 on aggregate in 2021/22 (3-1 a, 3-3 h), and are aiming for a 13th semifinal appearance, which would set a new English record; they are currently level with United.
The Merseyside club have won six of their last eight Champions League quarterfinal ties.
Liverpool have lost nine of their ten previous European ties in which they were beaten in the first leg by a two‑goal margin, the exception against French side Auxerre in the 1991/92 UEFA Cup second round (0-2 a, 3-0 h).
Liverpool have kept four clean sheets in their last six Champions League matches.
None of the Reds last 52 European games finished 0-0, since they drew at home to Real Madrid in the 2020/21 Champions League quarterfinal second leg.
Liverpool have won 16 of their last 22 European matches (L6) and 16 of the last 20 at Anfield (L4).
This is Paris tenth European Cup quarterfinal – all in the Champions League era. Last season’s win against Aston Villa was their fourth in a row and their fifth overall.
Paris are aiming to reach the Champions League semi‑finals for a third consecutive season –which would be a European Cup first for a French club.
Paris have won their last six two-legged Champions League ties.
The French side have won eight of the 11 European ties in which they recorded a two-goal first leg victory, including five of the seven in which they won the first game at home. The last time they failed to progress was the 2013/14 quarter‑final against Chelsea (3-1 h, 0-2 a, lost on away goals).
Enrique’s side have lost only two of their last 17 European matches (W11 D4) and only two of their last 14 in the Champions League knockout phase (W11 D1).
This is Paris’ 62nd match in the Champions League knockout phase; they have yet to feature in a goalless draw.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been on target in Paris’ last four Champions League matches, five goals in all – no Paris player had ever scored in four successive knockout games.