Liverpool got their 16th loss of the season, putting their Champions League aspirations in jeopardy following a humiliating defeat to reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Desire Doue’s deflected drive looped over Giorgi Mamardashvili’s head to give the Ligue 1 leaders the lead, then Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled their lead with a brilliant finish.
It means the Reds, who did not make a single shot on goal, must do everything they can to stay in the competition in the quarter-final second leg next Tuesday at Anfield.
Following a four-goal thrashing by Manchester City in their previous game, Liverpool appeared to be on a damage-limitation mission, starting with a five-man defense in Paris.
But PSG seized the lead in the 11th minute and dominated throughout, despite another confused display by Arne Slot’s side that left more questions than answers.
Mamardashvili, filling in for injured first-choice Alisson, was beaten by 20-year-old Doue’s shot from within the box, which took a nasty deflection off Virgil van Dijk and sailed over the goalie and into the net.
Mamardashvili recovered to make several crucial saves to keep Liverpool in the game, including a fantastic one-handed save to deny Georgia teammate Kvaratskhelia before rejecting Doue after the Reds were sliced open.
However, Liverpool fell further down when Kvaratskhelia added PSG’s second with a beautiful piece of technique after rounding the keeper from Joao Neves’ defense-splitting pass.
It could have been worse for Liverpool when Warren Zaire-Emery was knocked down by Ibrahima Konate, but the penalty was overruled after the official reviewed the situation on the pitchside monitor.
Konate was fortunate not to be punished for shoving Nuno Mendes in stoppage time.
Ousmane Dembele also squandered three excellent opportunities, the first when he shot straight at Mamardashvili, the second when he blazed over the bar, and the third when he struck the woodwork following a mistake by Jeremie Frimpong late on.
Liverpool sent in Alexander Isak for his first appearance since December due to injury, but they have a formidable job in overturning PSG’s lead in six days.
While Paris Saint-Germain has a free weekend to prepare for Tuesday’s return leg at Anfield, Liverpool will try to snap a three-game Premier League losing streak when they visit Fulham on Saturday (17:30 BST).
