Liverpool at risk of serious punishment as PSG cashed in on $81M transfer call

The Reds will come up against a player they chose not to sign last year — and that choice could come back to bite the Anfield club once again in the Champions League

Liverpool will face Khvicha Kvaratskhelia after the decision not to sign him last year(Image: Getty Images)

As Arne Slot draws up his plans to take on Paris Saint-Germain, the Liverpool head coach will not be short of alarming issues to solve.

The reigning European champions play with a vigor and variety that makes it almost impossible for opposition sides to contend with. The ability to slow the pace of proceedings via Vithina, to press relentlessly, and attack with ruthlessly direct movement, makes PSG a deadly proposition.

Slot will also have to consider specific plans for key attackers Ousmane Dembele — the current Ballon d’Or holder — plus Desire Doue and Achraf Hakimi. Another player Slot admires is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, the Georgian winger who joined from Napoli last year.

Indeed, the player was heavily linked with a move to Liverpool before completing a $81 million transfer to PSG in January 2025.

The Reds did admire Kvaratskhelia, but there was no direct contact regarding a possible deal, and at such a lofty price, the Reds were never going to sanction a mid-season addition.

After all, Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz were impressing from the left wing, with the late Diogo Jota another option in that role, and teenage protege Rio Ngumoha beginning to underline his credentials. So making an expensive move for Kvaratskhelia made little sense.

But given the Reds’ attacking deficiencies this season, Slot will surely look on with envy as Kvaratskhelia lines up for the opposition in Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final tie at the Parc des Princes.

Kvaratskhelia will line up against Liverpool on Wednesday(Image: Getty Images)

Since moving to Paris, the 25-year-old has underlined his world-class status, playing a pivotal role in PSG's first European crown last season.

Kvaratskhelia scored in knockout wins over Brest and Aston Villa, before becoming the first Georgian to net in a Champions League final when he got on the scoresheet against Inter. He also played in both legs as PSG dumped Liverpool out of the competition.

With the league all but wrapped up, Kvaratskhelia’s best displays were reserved for Europe, and he was also crucial in PSG’s run to the Club World Cup final last summer, starting in all seven games in the United States.

Arne Slot will hope Kvaratskhelia is not at his best in the Champions League quarterfinal(Image: Getty Images)

Having often played as a central striker in Naples, Luis Enrique has used Kvaratskhelia solely as a winger, including on the right flank, despite his preference for cutting inside from the left.

This season, the attacker’s form has dipped slightly from the dizzying heights of last, as have most of PSG’s star men.

But Kvaratskhelia has saved his best for the Champions League, with 11 goal contributions in as many games. Kvaratskhelia has netted in the last three European matches, including both legs of the one-sided last-16 tie against Chelsea.

Liverpool will hope that impressive form does not continue into Wednesday. Slot has enough to worry about without allowing a missed transfer opportunity coming back to haunt Liverpool.