Liverpool exited the Champions League to Paris Saint-Germain again.
Arne Slot’s side were denied a penalty midway through the second half after VAR overturned the decision on Willian Pacho’s shove on Alexis Mac Allister.
The visitors soon extended their lead from the first leg courtesy of Ousmane Dembele’s strike past Giorgi Mamardashvili from just outside the area.
Insult was added to injury at the start of added time as Dembele haunted the Reds again, this time sweeping home Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s cutback.
Here were the key talking points from Anfield:
A comeback that never was
Exactly a decade since the memorable Europa League quarter-final against Borussia Dortmund, Anfield dared to dream of another improbable comeback.
Virgil van Dijk even hoped that Liverpool could channel the spirit of 2019 and that incredible night against Barcelona in the Champions League’s last four.
Unfortunately, any repeats of recent history were doused in the swirling rain.
Arne Slot’s side went toe-to-toe with Paris Saint-Germain for a second season running but, crucially, failed to make a dent in their two-goal aggregate lead.
Half-chances was as good as things got for the Reds against the reigning European champions, a team so well drilled it exposed their shortcomings.
Four attempts at Matvei Safonov’s goal was their lowest in the first half of a Champions League home game since facing Napoli in November 2022.
Purposeful play failed to move the needle despite having, until misfortune struck, Hugo Ekitike, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz all on the pitch.
Ultimately, though, this proved to be a comeback which never was and another that remains symptomatic of this most forgettable of seasons.
Isak must get up to speed
Just when Liverpool think they are over the worst, misfortune strikes again.
This time it was the sight of Ekitike being stretchered off against his one-time employers after landing awkwardly barely half an hour into Tuesday’s contest.
Though lows as well as highs, the France international’s goals and other attributes have been a rare shining light to the Premier League champions.
A likely lay-off from his suspected achilles injury offers Alexander Isak a perfect opportunity to show why he became the club’s record signing last summer.
The Swede himself is no stranger to treatment table woes, having spent four months working his way back from a fibula fracture suffered in the line of duty.
Yet Isak’s first start since December’s league phase win at Inter Milan did not inspire confidence that he can fill the void left by Ekitike’s potential absence.
Ring rust was always going to be par for the course but the latest set of circumstances dictate that he will need to get up to speed – and fast.
Liverpool’s No.9 can ill afford to be a casual observer with games coming thick and fast that could dictate whether he is worth the perseverance.
Reds can embrace underdog tag
Slot has always maintained that the most important game is ‘always the next one’ – and few come much bigger than the one immediately on the horizon.
Sunday’s Merseyside derby encounter with Everton has arrived at both the best and worst possible time for Liverpool; a veritable double-edged sword.
David Moyes’ side will relish entertaining their inconsistent neighbours for a first time at HIll Dickinson Stadium; where home form is belatedly improving.
Liverpool, however, have more than bragging rights on the line this weekend.
A win over the Blues would offer a perfect palette-cleanse both from exiting Europe’s elite compeittion and the task which still lies ahead in this campaign.
Points will be at a premium in the final weeks with successive clashes against Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa, three of their top five rivals.
Whatever transpires by the banks of the Mersey has wider implications than civic pride – for Everton’s own continental prospects as much as their visitors.
Form traditionally goes out the window in derbies and in that respect, the underdog tag may suit Liverpool more in that fixture than against PSG here.