Liverpool facing Champions League rematch after VAR controversy

Liverpool has drawn Galatasaray in Champions League Round of 16 and could face PSG or Chelsea in quarterfinals - a year after controversial tie saw ex-players ejected from Anfield

Liverpool is hoping to win the Champions League(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool could encounter an uncomfortable rematch with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League - 12 months after former players were "kicked out" of Anfield, and VAR controversy led to Italian referee Davide Massa being surrounded in the tunnel.

The Reds will meet Galatasaray in the Round of 16 of Europe's premier club competition later this month, following the draw conducted at the House of European Football in Nyon, Switzerland, on Friday. Should Arne Slot's players overcome the Turkish side, they will then face either PSG or Chelsea in the quarterfinals.

If PSG progress and meet the Reds in the last eight of the Champions League, it would mirror the last 16 clash in March 2025 - a two-legged encounter filled with considerable drama.

As Liverpool topped the league phase and PSG was required to navigate a playoff against Brest, the Reds headed to Paris first before welcoming the French side in the return fixture. While Slot's team emerged 1-0 victors at the Parc des Princes courtesy of Harvey Elliott's late strike, it's fair to say the Reds were fortunate to secure an advantage from the opening leg.

Indeed, PSG registered 27 attempts compared to Liverpool's two, and generated an expected goals (xG) of 1.82 overall. Alisson needed to be at his finest, with the Brazilian keeper making 10 saves and earning the Player of the Match accolade.

PSG's exasperation was evident at the interval when sporting director Luis Campos expressed fury that Ibrahima Konate escaped a red card after he seemingly fouled Bradley Barcola just within the penalty area.

Bradley Barcola went down under pressure from Ibrahima Konate, but no foul was given(Image: Getty Images)

France international Konate was the final defender, and replays demonstrated contact between both players prior to Barcola falling, yet the officials deemed his tackle not to be a foul, leaving PSG incensed.

VAR conducted a thorough review of the incident and chose not to award PSG a penalty or issue Konate with a red card, upholding referee Davide Massa's original decision of no spot-kick. Campos was observed repeatedly shouting "it's a red card or a penalty" at Massa while heading toward the dressing room during the half-time break.

PSG players protested to Massa throughout an extended VAR examination, while Rio Ferdinand, analyzing for TNT Sports as a pundit, stated he was "amazed" that Konate avoided dismissal.

While PSG was infuriated regarding the decision to keep Konate on the field and trailing 1-0, the French team responded with another commanding display in the second leg - and this time it prevailed.

Luis Enrique's side narrowly defeated the Reds 1-0 during regular time at Anfield, with Ousmane Dembele netting in the opening period to force extra-time, before spot-kicks were required to determine the victor after more than 210 minutes of soccer.

However, prior to that conclusion, a number of former PSG players, including ex-France international Jeremy Menez, were "ejected" from the ground and missed witnessing the decisive moment in person.

The party had applauded Dembele's strike, prompting home fans to notify stewards in the vicinity. Reports suggest the former players were subsequently instructed to vacate the stadium at approximately the 65th minute. Menez and his companions then observed the remainder of the encounter on a coach and later at a hotel.

Former Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri disclosed particulars of the episode on Canal +, stating: "A thought for those who were kicked out of the stadium too. Jeremy Menez was at the match, he was asked if he was French. After his answer, they told him to leave the stadium, in the 70th minute no less."

PSG ultimately prevailed in the penalty shootout and advanced to the quarterfinals. The French team subsequently lifted the Champions League that campaign, overcoming Aston Villa, Arsenal and Inter Milan along the way.

Yet Liverpool would be seeking retribution should they overcome Galatasaray, and the Parisian outfit get past Chelsea. Speaking last month, however, Slot disclosed that the defeat against PSG actually aided Liverpool's Premier League title triumph.

"This is not going to be a popular opinion, what I'm going to tell you now, but maybe the reason why we won the league last season is that we had to play Paris Saint-Germain in the last-16," he said.

"As you know, they beat us, and we had every time a week to prepare for the next game. Maybe that has helped us as well, maybe if we had to double up that programme, which Arsenal had, and they dropped a few points in that period of time, that has helped us in winning the league."