Liverpool boss Arne Slot described the exit in the hands of Paris Saint-Germain as “the best game of football” he has ever been involved in.
In what was an exciting match, the Premier League leaders were reported 4-1 on penalties after their last-16 tie 1-1 ended up on aggregated after a 1-0 loss in the second stage on Anfield on Tuesday.
Liverpool was extensively surpassed in the first stage in Paris, but escaped with victory thanks to a late Harvey Elliott goal.
PSG turned the tables in Anfield after scoring early by Ousmane Dembele and Reds Manager Slot admitted that his side may have used up their happiness in the first stage.
“It was the best football match I was ever involved in. Incredible achievements, especially compared to last week. In the first 20 to 25 minutes we were over them, they created a chance after coincidence and suddenly we were 1-0 down. Probably it was almost the opposite, maybe we were very lucky because the margins were so small tonight.
“After 90 minutes it felt that we earned more than 1-0 lower. I was waiting for us to score. I don't think the second half, apart from the last five minutes, when they threatened us once or twice. We played the perfect match, except scoring goals, it was the same for PSG last week when they did not score, and it happened.
“Het is altijd moeilijk als je zoveel moeite doet, voor de eerste 25 minuten heb ik ze nog nooit zo agressief en zo intens gezien als ze vandaag waren, en dan kijk je naar het scorebord en je bent 1-0 lager, een ongelukkig doel ook. Als je zoveel moeite doet, is het soms moeilijk en uiteindelijk komt het naar de straf en wij, als we weten, hoe dan ook, nederlands, weten hoe je weet hoe je weet, weet hoe je weet, hoe dan ook, nederlanders, weten hoe je weet, hoe dan ook, hoe So, Dutch, know how you know how Dutch is, anyway, anyway, anyway, anyway, how you know, anyway, the Netherlands [on penalties].
“It had everything you would like to see from a football match. From a Liverpool perspective you would like to have a draw after 90 minutes, but it came down to punishment.
“It feels unfair to go out on this round. You are at the top of the table and you are standing for a team like PSG, but that is also the beautiful part of football. Everyone around the world has it fun to watch this game and the margins are small, and if you want to win it, you have to have it last week, I didn't have had it last week, I had it today, I had it, I had it, I had it, I had it, I had it today, I had it, I had it, I had it, I had it, I had it today, I had it, I had it, I had it, I had it last week, I had it, I had it last week, I had it today.
“Now it is clear what we have to do for the rest of the season – a final of the League Cup and nine Premier League matches.”
Van Dijk look ahead to Wembley Final: 'We must be ready for the next challenge'
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has encouraged his teammates to clean their exit from Champions League while looking forward to the Carabao Cup final of Sunday, live on Sky Sports (kick-off 4.30 pm).
The side of Slot hopes to bounce back at Wembley and to win the first silverware of the season while they take on Newcastle.
Van Dijk said: “It was very intense, a great football game to be part of.
“It was clear that it was a completely different Liverpool than we showed in Paris, but unfortunately she went on punishment and that is the reality.
“I told the boys, you can be disappointed because we are out of the competition, chin up and prepare ourselves for the next challenge. It's a nice on the weekend, so we're going again.
He added: “I think we were pretty good today, and you want to go as far as possible, but we knew that when we pulled PSG, it would be very difficult. We saw in Paris when we struggled, but we won, and today we saw a very good Liverpool, but we are out of the competition.
“From the first second and then extra time, when fatigue enters into force for both parties, it becomes more open, but especially during the regular time we have shown a very good game. We have been able to talk about the game for centuries, but we are out of the competition, that is reality.”
Carra: the best team won
Former Liverpool -defender Jamie Carragher was full of praise for PSG after their victory in Anfield and he thinks the best team finally won the draw.
“The best team won,” the Sky Sports Pundit told CBS.
“We saw how PSG performed in the first stage – I called it a robbery.
“In the first 20 minutes, half an hour, I thought Liverpool would win this game comfortably, but they couldn't get that goal early, and then PSG get it.
“For the rest of the game it felt like nip and tuck, but in extra time PSG took over and we (Liverpool) are stuck for penalties.
“Then it is a lottery, but PSG earned it to continue. Liverpool no longer hit steam. It was a game at the highest level and you have to admire the sparkle of the opposition.”
Liverpool's European dream about
Sky Sports' Adam Bate in Anfield:
“There was applause from the Liverpool supporters at the end, they wanted to assist their team after their heroic deeds this season, but PSG earned it over the two legs.
“The side of Arne Slot was able to count himself miserably in the sense that Mohamed Salah missed two presentable opportunities before the goal of Ousmane Dembele and Dominik Szoboszlai had a goal for offside.
“But although Liverpool was much more impressive in this game than a week ago, it wasn't enough.
“Salah was under par and for once the replacements of Slot did not pay.”
“It is his task to tackle these players for the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, including Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones, while Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate touched.
“The Premier League title awaits, but Liverpool's European dream is over for this season.”
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