“Why PSG Chose Their End and Took the First Penalty Against Liverpool”

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher was left puzzled after Arne Slot’s team found themselves on the losing end of two crucial decisions during their penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday night. With the aggregate score tied 1-1 after 120 minutes at Anfield, PSG’s Achraf Hakimi appeared to win the coin toss, choosing to have the penalties taken at the Anfield Road End — directly in front of the visiting French fans.

Interestingly, PSG also took the first penalty of the shootout, successfully converted by Vitinha. Reflecting on the situation, Carragher said (full interview below):

“What I couldn’t figure out was, after the coin toss between Virgil van Dijk and PSG’s captain, PSG seemed to win the right to pick the end and also take the first penalty. Normally, one team picks the end, and the other gets to go first — but PSG had both advantages. Still, they probably deserved to go through.”

Though Carragher was confused about how Liverpool ended up at a disadvantage, former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg later provided an explanation. He clarified that recent rule changes mean only one coin toss is conducted — to determine both which end the penalties are taken at and which team shoots first — removing the chance for a split advantage.

Speaking during the broadcast, Clattenburg explained: “Of course, Liverpool would have preferred to take penalties at the Kop End, but ultimately, it’s up to the referee. The coin toss determines which end is used, and then the winning captain gets to choose whether to shoot first or second. The rule has been this way since 2016.”

This change, as noted by The Athletic, means Carragher may not have been aware of the updated regulations. PSG fans certainly took advantage of the situation, with some using megaphones to try to distract Liverpool players during the shootout.

With this win, PSG moves on to face the winner of Aston Villa vs. Club Brugge in the Champions League quarter-finals. Although Liverpool exited the competition despite topping their group, they remain in the Premier League title race and have reached the League Cup final, giving Arne Slot’s side reasons to stay optimistic despite falling to Luis Enrique’s well-drilled PSG squad.