Achraf Hakimi controversy forced Liverpool security to sprint onto Anfield pitch

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Achraf Hakimi is set to captain Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg against Liverpool on Tuesday after his controversial flag-planting celebration at Anfield last season sparked fury

Security had to step in after Achraf Hakimi's Anfield gesture after PSG beat Liverpool last season(Image: Getty Images)

Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi is preparing for a fierce Anfield reception against Liverpool following his controversial actions during last season's encounter.

The Moroccan provocatively placed a PSG flag at the center circle after his team's penalty shootout victory over the Reds in the Champions League knockout rounds 12 months ago. On Tuesday, Hakimi and his colleagues return to Merseyside holding a two-goal advantage as they aim to continue their title defense following their triumph in Munich last May.

Arne Slot's players will need to recall their extraordinary 2019 fightback against Barcelona, when they reversed a three-goal deficit to reach the final, should they wish to create another memorable European day at Anfield.

Liverpool was comprehensively outplayed in the opening leg after strikes from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia positioned the Parisians within 90 minutes of another semifinal berth in Europe's elite club tournament.

However, Tuesday's encounter with the Reds represents the French club's second visit to L4 within 12 months, having previously enjoyed success last term.

Liverpool had maintained a one-goal cushion going into the second leg on home territory, but Ousmane Dembele's strike pushed the tie to penalties.

Hakimi was booed by Liverpool fans as security had to step in(Image: asim_lfc/X)

It was at that moment that Gianluigi Donnarumma produced two vital stops to deny Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez, sending Slot's side tumbling out of the competition.

The result sparked frenzied celebrations from the visiting side and the traveling supporters of the French giants. Stewards were, however, forced to intervene when Hakimi retrieved a PSG flag from the away end and planted it at the center of the Anfield pitch.

Ground staff were obliged to remove the flag from the center spot, but the 27-year-old snatched it back, waving it toward the French supporters in a provocative manner.

The remaining Liverpool supporters inside Anfield made their displeasure at Hakimi's conduct abundantly clear, and on Tuesday, he is set to lead PSG out at Anfield once again.

Speaking after last Wednesday's game, Slot admitted his players went into "survival mode" after PSG.

He said: "We were in survival mode for large parts of the game – maybe also in the period of the season we are in. We are in survival mode, to find ways where we can try to make sure that their qualities are not seen that much.

"But that's really, really hard against this team because last year over here we were in survival mode as well.

"But, as I said, Paris Saint-Germain was the better team, but we didn't give up, and that is why we still have a chance now because they kept us alive by not scoring a few open chances."