PSG take down Liverpool in shootout to advance in Champions League

Paris Saint-Germain knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League on Tuesday, keeping their cool in a penalty shootout at Anfield to advance to the quarterfinals.

Gianluigi Donnarumma, criticized after his team's first-leg loss last week, stepped up for the Ligue 1 leaders when it counted most, saving back-to-back spot-kicks from Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones in the shootout.

Desire Doue confidently dispatched the decisive effort, giving Luis Enrique's team a 4-1 victory from the penalty spot.

The tie finished level at one goal apiece after normal time and 30 goalless minutes of extra time.

Ousmane Dembele's early tally Tuesday nullified Harvey Elliott's late strike from the first leg, sending the enthralling encounter to extra time tied 1-1 on aggregate. The red-hot French winger also converted in the shootout.

Enrique proclaimed ahead of Tuesday's game that the winner of the last-16 matchup will go all the way to this year's final.

PSG, still seeking their first Champions League title, will now be confident of making good on that statement. They'll play either Aston Villa or Club Brugge in the next round of the tournament.

Despite the nail-biting finish, PSG were deserving of advancing after dominating Arne Slot's men in a way few have managed this season.

Were it not for Alisson Becker's superhuman performance in the first leg in Paris, the tie likely would've been decided last week; the Brazilian netminder made 16 saves over the two fixtures, with PSG outshooting Liverpool 48-21 overall.

"It was a great performance. We really deserved to go through over the two legs, hands down," PSG captain Marquinhos told Canal Plus, as translated by Agence France-Presse. "To come here and win with a very young team, one of the youngest in the Champions League, I think the coach, the staff, everyone has done a great job and I am really happy."

For Liverpool, meanwhile, Tuesday's elimination brought a premature end to what looked like it could be a special Champions League run after the Merseyside outfit cruised to first place overall in the revamped opening phase.

Slot's team must now shift attention back to domestic matters.

The Reds, who have a massive 15-point lead atop the Premier League table, will look to claim a trophy Sunday when they take on Newcastle United in the League Cup final.