Dembele praises Liverpool and Anfield atmosphere after PSG Champions League victory

Ousmane Dembele scored twice as PSG knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League, with the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner admitting the Premier League champions made it 'work for it' at Anfield

Ousmane Dembele celebrates his second goal against Liverpool, which sealed Paris Saint-Germain's 2-0 win at Anfield(Image: Xavier Laine/Getty Images)

Ousmane Dembele acknowledged that Liverpool made Paris Saint-Germain 'work for it' and praised the Anfield atmosphere after his goals secured the holders' passage to the Champions League semi-finals.

PSG were strong favourites to advance heading into Tuesday's second leg on Merseyside following their 2-0 first-leg victory at the Parc des Princes, courtesy of goals from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Dembele, the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner, squandered opportunities to make the final scoreline even more convincing in the French capital. However, just as he did last season, he found the net at Anfield in a PSG triumph.

While Luis Enrique's side required penalties back then to secure their quarter-final berth, after Dembele had canceled out Harvey Elliott's first-leg strike, they were ultimately comfortable victors this time round.

That said, following an evenly-matched first half, it was Liverpool who controlled significant portions of the second half and were very much the ascendant side until PSG's talisman broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute with a moment of brilliance.

To their credit, and that of their supporters, the Reds refused to surrender, but their destiny was confirmed in stoppage time when Dembele applied the finishing touch to another incisive counter-attack. Speaking to CBS Sports following his match-winning brace, the France international said: "The first match and the second match are always different, and in a stadium like that, it's always difficult.

Ousmane Dembele scored at Anfield to end Liverpool's hopes of a Champions League comeback.(Image: 2026 UEFA)

"We came here to take the win, that was our mentality, and the most important thing is we got through.

"It's a stadium that is a difficult stadium and it's a difficult team. They made us work for it. But we're happy that we were able to take this match-up."

PSG manager Enrique mirrored Dembele's sentiments, conceding that the outgoing Premier League champions were worthy of finding the net.

He said: "It was an important game for us, a top game not just for our fans or Liverpool's but for all fans. Two really good teams, Liverpool played a fantastic game, a lot of intensity. It was really tight.

Luis Enrique praised Liverpool's performance despite suffering defeat against PSG(Image: Getty Images)

"There were a few moments where we had the upper hand. Things got even tougher for us in the second half but we showed what kind of team we are. It was a wonderful Champions League quarter-final. Liverpool definitely deserved to score over the course of the game.

"Had we conceded a goal early on it would have been really difficult so you need things to go your way and it is wonderful to have these kind of players in the clubs and the fans as well, their support was extraordinary. We are happy to show them what we are made of."

PSG will next face either Bayern Munich or Real Madrid in the semi-finals as it bids to go one step closer to retaining its crown. And Dembele said: "The first part of the season was difficult. We didn't have much downtime, but that's no excuse. I've said it multiple times that we had to find our way together as a team.

"The most important thing is the team - to play together and fight together. We know we have incredible players and when we play as a team we are difficult to beat. The most important thing is that mentality - the team, just the team, and to play for PSG."