So after three successive away defeats in the Champions League, Liverpool need to do something that normally comes quite naturally to them.
A decent win at home against Napoli in a fortnight and Jurgen Klopp’s team will make it to the last 16.
Liverpool are good at home, so will fancy the task on what should be a frenzied night at Anfield. Nevertheless, they look flawed in this competition this season and that is something we didn’t expect after last year’s heroics.
Neymar celebrates in front of the Parc des Princes crowd after scoring his side’s second goal as the home fans watch on
Neymar doubled Liverpool’s lead before half-time as Paris Saint-Germain defeated the Reds to leapfrog their opponents
Juan Bernat celebrates alongside Neymar after opening the scoring 13 minutes into the Champions League clash in Paris
The former Bayern Munich full back races to celebrate with Kylian Mbappe after putting his side in the lead against Liverpool
Liverpool midfielder James Milner slotted his penalty home with aplomb to reduce the deficit before the half-time break
MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND MATCH ZONE
PSG XI: Buffon 6, Kehrer 7, Thiago Silva 7, Kimpembe 7.5, Bernat 7.5, Verratti 8, Marquinhos 7, Di Maria 6 (Alves 65mins, 6), Mbappe 8.5 (Rabiot 85), Neymar 7, Cavani 8 (Choupo-Moting 65, 6)
Subs not used: Areola, Draxler, Dagba, N’Soki
Goals: Bernat 13, Neymar 37
Booked: Verratti, Neymar
Manager: Tuchel 8
LIVERPOOL XI: Alisson 8, Gomez 6.5, Lovren 6, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 7, Milner 7 (Shaqiri 77), Henderson 6, Wijnaldum 5 (Keita 66, 6), Salah 6, Firmino 5 (Sturridge 71, 6), Mane 7
Subs not used: Mignolet, Fabinho, Matip, Alexander-Arnold
Goal: Milner 45+1
Booked: Wijnaldum, Gomez, Sturridge, Keita, Van Dijk, Robertson
Manager: Klopp 6
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland) 6
Star man: Mbappe
Ratings by Dominic King
Here’s how Neymar scored PSG’s second against Liverpool – CLICK HERE for more of our brilliant Match Zone service
Poor in both Naples and Belgrade, Liverpool were run ragged for half an hour against a Paris Saint-Germain side who seemed up for the challenge, to put it mildly.
But after Juan Bernat and Neymar had given the French champions a two-goal lead inside 37 minutes, Liverpool scored through a James Milner penalty before half-time and things were more even.
This is not the Liverpool of last season, that is beyond doubt. They enjoyed possession in the second half but their gilded front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane could not do much with it. Firmino in particular was very poor. But Liverpool are very much alive in Europe.
The directness and dexterity of Kylian Mbappe and Neymar was mesmeric at times, while deeper in the PSG formation the impish Marco Verratti began as though he intended to pick Liverpool to pieces on his own.
One turn away from Firmino on the edge of his own penalty area embarrassed the Liverpool striker, whose only response was to try to push him to the ground. That failed and the move ended in a shot across goal from Mbappe.
Then, in the seventh minute, Angel di Maria worked Alisson in the Liverpool goal with a volley from 20 yards before Mbappe picked up the pieces from a thumping tackle by Milner on Neymar to drive in a low strike from the edge of the area.
Liverpool were not overwhelmed but the threat was growing. The visiting midfield of Milner, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum were not able to gain even a semblance of control and when the first goal arrived it came as no surprise.
PSG captain Thiago Silva tests fellow countryman Alisson with a close-range header but the Brazil goalkeeper stands firm
Liverpool custodian Alisson can only stand and stare after Bernat’s early effort flies into the bottom corner of his goal
Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane and Andrew Robertson look dejected as Alisson vents his anger after conceding early on
Verratti protests with the referee after receiving a yellow card despite being lucky not to see red after a late lunge on Gomez
Neymar jumps on team-mate Mbappe’s back as the Brazilian celebrates scoring PSG’s second goal in the 37th minute
It was typical of PSG’s football, too, as the white shirts swept the ball upfield on the back of neat, progressive passing in the 13th minute.
The danger might have been cleared had Virgil van Dijk been able to get a firmer foot on Mbappe’s low cross from the left. Instead the ball looped up into the path of Bernat and a sound first touch moved the ball inside Joe Gomez before an explosive second drove it low to the right of Alisson, who seemed to be expecting the ball to arrive at the other side.
Another PSG threat saw Alisson paw away a low cross from Mbappe, who was schooling young Gomez down the left flank.
Liverpool, though, finally began to enjoy some possession and territory, though a low shot from Salah into the side netting was all they had to show for it.
Verratti was lucky to stay on the pitch after a horrible lunge at Gomez but that was forgotten soon after as PSG speared Liverpool with a breathtaking second goal in the 37th minute.
When Firmino lost the ball deep in French territory, there seemed to be little danger but the speed with which Neymar and Mbappe moved the ball upfield was astonishing. Once again the move progressed down the left and as Gomez trod water, Mbappe’s cross reached Edinson Cavani. The Uruguayan’s shot was saved well by Alisson but Neymar had followed play and drove in the loose ball.
Liverpool looked sunk until a lifeline was thrown in the last minute of the half. Di Maria’s challenge on Sadio Mane was late and ugly and, after consulting his linesman, referee Szymon Marciniak awarded the penalty that was expertly converted by Milner.
Liverpool were better in the second period and it became clear that PSG were uncomfortable with the visitors’ attack running at them. What was required now was a bit of the composure and dynamism that the Liverpool front three exhibited last season.
A Salah shot was charged down on the edge of the area just when the Egyptian had found some space and then Firmino headed over at the near post when unmarked. Liverpool were vulnerable on the break but there were signs of hope when Klopp’s team were in possession.
A Marquinhos header from a PSG corner was saved brilliantly by Alisson, while at the other end Liverpool still needed to be better with their final pass.
Substitute Dani Alves jumps in the air as he celebrates with fellow countryman Neymar as coach Thomas Tuchel watches on
Milner celebrates towards the Liverpool fans after keeping his cool to slot home a penalty shortly before the half-time interval
Liverpool won a penalty when Mane was carelessly scythed down by PSG’s Angel di Maria inside the penalty area
Jurgen Klopp turned to Daniel Sturridge in the second half after Roberto Firmino proved to be ineffective in Paris
Former Stoke forward Maxim Choupo-Moting helps out team-mate Marquinhos after the Brazilian struggles with cramp
France national team coach Didier Deschamps was in the stands to keep a close eye on star forward Mbappe
The stars were out in force at Parc des Princes as actor Leonardo Di Caprio and musician Mick Jagger were both in attendance