PSG owner made Liverpool 'respect' comment after silencing Anfield

Liverpool will face Paris Saint-Germain once again in the Champions League, with the reigning European champions only too aware of what lies in wait for them at Anfield

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi paid Liverpool the ultimate compliment(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool will be eyeing up some revenge next month, having become just one of two Premier League sides to make it through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

While there might be plenty of doom and gloom among supporters amid what has been a disappointing season, the Reds’ relentless display against Galatasaray was just what they and Arne Slot had been longing for. And now, as their reward, they get a shot at redemption.

Just a little over 12 months ago, Liverpool took Paris Saint-Germain back to Anfield with an advantage no one could believe. Alisson’s heroics and Harvey Elliott’s smash-and-grab goal in the French capital meant the Reds just had to finish the job off back at home.

Of course, it’s never as easy as it sounds, and Ousman Dembele quickly brought parity. The two heavyweights could be separated thereafter, and needed the lottery of penalties to settle the scores.

It would end in heartbreaking fashion for the hosts. Curtis Jones and Darwin Nunez couldn’t convert, and the Reds could only watch on as Luis Enrique’s side went on to sweep aside all in their path on the way to becoming kings of Europe for the first time.

It was a meeting that would have been fitting of a final - it certainly would have been more competitive than the 5-0 thrashing doled out to Inter Milan - and you only need to listen to PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi to know just how deep his side had to dig.

Liverpool will get its chance for revenge against PSG in the Champions League(Image: Getty Images)

"It’s a wonderful night for us, for the club, for history,” Al-Khelaifi said, having joined his players on the pitch to celebrate at Anfield after being swept up by the magnitude of the occasion.

“I spoke with the players and told them that they could make history tonight. It was not easy at all, and we want to give all our respect to Liverpool, which is a great team, one of the best, if not the best in the world today.

“Our players, the coach, the staff, Luis Campos… Honestly, we all dreamed of this. This is a wonderful job.

“We will celebrate tonight, but the road ahead is still very long. We take it game by game, but today the players showed that we have great character. I also think about our supporters.

“Throughout the match, I felt like we were playing at the Parc. We were 3,000, but it felt like 50,000. I am very proud of our supporters.

“Thanks to them, this victory is also for them because their support is very important for the players and for the club. It was a tough game to play here at Anfield. But it’s a perfect night."

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi celebrated with his team on the pitch at Anfield(Image: Getty Images)

That regard with which PSG held that triumph over Liverpool tells you all you need to know about that clash, and why Reds fans will have been left wondering what could have been.

They’ll get their chance to exact some revenge next month, and if last year tells us anything, this could have a huge bearing on who eventually will be crowned European champions.

PSG have already sent out a major warning, having put eight past Chelsea. Liverpool, and Anfield, will be a different prospect though, and the reigning champions know that.