The PSG midfielder covered every blade of grass at Anfield as his side frustrated Liverpool for 120 minutes

Afterwards, they carried on running. They had run for two hours, run themselves into the ground, run themselves delirious, but at the moment of triumph the players of Paris Saint-Germain somehow managed to find a few more yards in them. Ran towards their fans in the corner, ran in wild circles, tore across the Anfield grass as if it were the Champs-Élysées.

One man did not run. As Désiré Doué’s penalty hit the net, Vitinha simply crumpled, his legs finally giving way, his last drop of energy exhausted. Eventually, with his teammates still celebrating 70 yards away, he hauled himself to his feet and was the first to commiserate with Liverpool’s beaten players. Then, after they had dispersed, he simply stood in the centre circle for a few moments, as if finally claiming the turf for which he had spent the whole night fighting.

• PSG beat Liverpool on penalties in Champions League
• Slot praises ‘teams of an incredible level and intensity’

Arne Slot described Liverpool’s Champions League exit as the ­finest game of his career after Paris Saint‑Germain stunned Anfield with ­victory in a penalty shootout.

The Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma proved the decisive figure in the last-16 second leg with penalty saves from Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones. The game had gone to extra time and penalties after ­Ousmane Dembélé’s winner cancelled out Liverpool’s first‑leg lead from Paris. PSG converted all four of their penalties in a flawless shootout display.

Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two pens as PSG knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League at Anfield

The stats do not read well for Paris Saint-Germain. None of the last 15 French sides to play away from home against an English opponent in Europe have managed to win, with 14 of those ending in losses. The last victory was by PSG against Manchester United in 2020-21.

Liverpool, who have won all four of their home Champions League games this season, have progressed from their last 14 knockout stage ties in this competition. The last side to eliminate them after Liverpool took an advantage into the second leg was in 2001-02 against Bayer Leverkusen.

Luis Enrique exploded across the Anfield pitch when Désiré Doué struck the winning penalty and was still leaping on Paris Saint-Germain players and officials when they headed down the tunnel five minutes later. The reaction of someone who knows that one of the biggest obstacles to PSG’s designs on a first Champions League title is out of the way.

Liverpool suffered a role reversal in an epic last 16 second-leg tie at Anfield and their hopes of a seventh European crown are gone as a consequence. The home side were superior, profligate and lost 1-0, just as PSG did at Parc des Princes last week. The visiting goalkeeper again emerged the hero with Gianluigi Donnarumma, not Alisson, taking the acclaim after saving from Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones in a penalty shootout. Ousmane Dembélé had levelled the tie on aggregate with an early goal but Liverpool had numerous chances to advance before the necessary spot-kicks.