Doue’s shot in the 11th minute looped over goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili and in thanks to a big touch off Ryan Gravenberch, and Kvaratskhelia then rounded his compatriot to double PSG’s lead 65 minutes into a game they bossed from start to finish.
It only remains to be seen whether the reigning European champions – who had a second-half penalty in their favour overturned after a VAR review – might regret not scoring more goals against a Liverpool side who lined up with three centre-backs and were run ragged.
“I think we had chances to score more. There were many moments where we should score but it is OK,” Kvaratskhelia told broadcaster Canal Plus.
“I think 2-0 is good but we have to stay focused because we have to play at Anfield. We know that the atmosphere will be amazing so we are already starting to prepare that game.”
Liverpool’s game plan could not stop them slumping to a second emphatic loss in five days, even if the scoreline was not as bad as the 4-0 mauling inflicted by Manchester City in the FA Cup last weekend.
It is just one win in six in all competitions for Liverpool, and this was a 16th reverse in total in a difficult campaign.
“We were in survival mode for large parts of the game, and maybe also we are in survival mode at this period of the season,” said coach Arne Slot.
“It is really, really hard against this team. PSG was the better team, but we didn’t give up and that is why we still have a chance in this tie.”
Slot’s team must try to repeat what they did in the last 16, when they overturned a 1-0 first-leg loss away to Galatasaray by winning 4-0 in the return.
This will be a far tougher task, however, as the sides clash again next Tuesday on Merseyside, where PSG won 1-0 in the second leg of their last-16 tie last season before advancing on penalties.
That was a big step on their way to winning the Champions League, and came after they somehow lost 1-0 at the Parc des Princes despite completely dominating.
A string of Alisson Becker saves helped Liverpool smash and grab their way to victory a year ago, but the Brazilian was absent here meaning Mamardashvili started in goal.
In Spain, goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth did the damage in Atletico Madrid’s 2-0 win over Barcelona in their quarter-final first leg.
The La Liga leaders were on top in the all-Spanish tie at Camp Nou before Pau Cubarsi was sent off for bringing down Atletico’s Giuliano Simeone, who was through on goal.
Alvarez whipped home the resulting free-kick and Sorloth doubled their advantage with 20 minutes remaining to give Atletico a strong chance of reaching the semi-finals.
Diego Simeone’s side, who have never won the competition, reached the 2014 and 2016 finals but were beaten by rivals Real Madrid on both occasions.
“We have things to improve and learn from. We’re happy for the win but there’s a long way to go,” Atletico’s Antoine Griezmann told Movistar.
“We’re very far from the semis, we’re 90 or more minutes away. We’re confident but keeping our feet on the ground.”
Barca, semi-finalists last season, need to make a huge comeback next Tuesday in Madrid if they are to stand a chance of lifting the trophy they last won in 2015. (AFP)
Edited by Raymond Yeung
