But the inevitable reaction to a big defeat in a top-tier competition is to indulge in a period of soul searching.

Liverpool may be coasting towards a first Premier League title in five years - and only a second since 1990 - yet questions are bound to be asked about where they go from here.

What will be the outcome of their contract negotiations with key trio Mohammed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold?

Where does the squad need strengthening?

Should this be considered the start of a bright new era under Arne Slot or the culmination of Liverpool's revival under Jurgen Klopp?

Discuss...

Stephen Warnock
Former Liverpool and Aston Villa defender on the Football Daily podcast

Two incredible managers who have tactically set their teams up in ways to hurt each other, find solutions and try and nullify what they are trying to do. The players have been exceptional. Both sets of players over the two legs have been incredible. The quality we have seen at times, not only from a point of view of the way they have attacked but defended as well.

We have seen two outstanding performances from Alisson last week and Donnarumma tonight. It has been a privlege to be at both games because they are teams of the highest order.

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There was a consensus among the BBC Radio 5 Live pundits after Liverpool's defeat to Paris St-Germain that they had witnessed the best two sides in this season's Champions League going head to head.

Arne Slot and Luis Enrique both agreed with that summary in their post-match news conference, hence today's poll at the top of this page asking whether PSG should now be considered the best side in Europe...

On the question of how far Paris St-Germain can go in the Champions League - their reward for getting past Liverpool is a likely quarter-final tie against another Premier League side.

Aston Villa lead Club Brugge 3-1 and play their second leg at home tonight.

Should PSG progress, then comes a possible semi-final against Arsenal - who are 7-1 up against PSV Eindhoven - or the winners of the all Madrid last-16 tie between Atletico and Real.

Barcelona's impressive 4-1 aggregate win over Benfica rewards them with a tie against Lille or Borussia Dortmund, which is evenly poised at 1-1, while 2023 finalists Inter Milan face Bayern Munich in the last eight.

Those two quarter-finals set up the second semi-final.

Despite the disappointment of defeat, Arne Slot and Andy Robertson were quick to point out that they had lost to a very strong Paris St-Germain side.

But how far can PSG go in the competition?

Do you believe they are the best team in Europe now? Better than defending champions Real Madrid?

Have your say by taking part in our poll at the top of this page.

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You are quite right Ben, of course.

With that in mind, let's ask you what could now be deemed a predictable question...

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Liverpool manager Arne Slot gave an equally stark assessment when he was asked about Trent Alexander-Arnold's fitness after he limped off in Tuesday's Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

"Trent had to come off,” Slot said. “That is never a good sign and from people who saw it, it didn’t look good so I would be surprised if he is available on Sunday [against Newcastle in the final of the EFL Cup].”

A timeline for Alexander-Arnold's return has not been confirmed.

The injury looked to be an ankle issue after be went down awkwardly following a challenge on the touchline.

Stephen Warnock
Former Liverpool and Aston Villa defender on the Football Daily

It looks like Trent Alexander-Arnold will potentially miss that with that injury. I think Konate was more cramp, he went down a couple of times in quick succession. He was getting stretched quite a lot in that second period of extra time.

Going into that cup final now, how do you approach that? Yes they have that opportunity where they played on a Tuesday so they have more rest time. It is all about that recovery now.

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As Andy Robertson suggested, Liverpool now need to dust themselves down and prepare for Sunday's EFL Cup final against Newcastle United.

Arne Slot could have some difficult decisions to make when he considers his team selection, with key defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ibrahima Konate both limping off during Tuesday night's Champions League defeat to Paris St-Germain.

He will also have to assess the physical and mental toll that defeat has taken on his available players, which came after a gruelling 120 minutes of play and the heartbreak of a penalties.

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Liverpool

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Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson was already looking ahead to Sunday's EFL Cup final after seeing his side top the league phase of the Champions League, only to fall to the French champions in their first knockout game.

"That's the competition," said the Scotland captain, after losing to Paris St Germain, who have made one final and two semi-finals in the past five seasons.

"You know, we got the win last week without playing our best.

"Finishing top of the group and got the toughest tie of the whole Champions League.

"If they play to that level they should go far in the competition.

"It wasn't meant to be and we need to dust ourselves down.

"We always bounce back, there's a lot of tired legs in there. Cup finals, we enjoy them, and that's the biggest game."

Ousmane Dembele is one of the older heads in this Paris St-Germain side, at 27 years of age, but he showed he has not lost any of his youthful confidence with his penalty technique in the shootout.

When the talented France midfielder put down the ball and circled to his right-hand side, it looked likely he was going to slam it towards the net with his stronger left boot.

Instead, he skipped back to his left and placed it high past Alisson, using his 'weaker' right foot.

His successful penalty against Portugal at last summer's Euros was also scored using his right foot, and included a similar late skip to his left-hand side.

Asked why he did it against Portugal, he said: "I shoot better with my right foot."

It is that simple. So if you are struggling with penalties, then just swap foot. Easy!

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Julien Laurens
European football expert on the Football Daily podcast

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They [PSG] believed they could do it. There were not many people who thought they could come here against this Liverpool team and put on a performance again that could be good enough to get back into the tie first of all.

This is a very young team, I think the second youngest in the competition. For them to show the character to score early and weather storms at times, but the second half of extra time really summed up how good they have been in those two games.

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BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Ian Dennis put Paris St-Germain's achievement into context after Desire Doue scored the decisive penalty against Liverpool at Anfield to put them into the quarter-finals, completing a comeback after losing the first leg at home 1-0:

"Paris St-Germain have achieved what no other side has ever achieved before.

"When Liverpool have won an away first leg they have always progressed in European competition, but at the 40th time of asking it is Paris St-Germain who go through on a penalty shootout.

"They prevail and they will be going through to the last eight...they always had the confidence that they could do it after the disappointment of last week, and that they have."

Julien Laurens
European football expert on the Football Daily podcast

This is one of the biggest wins in the history of the club [Paris St-Germain]. To almost validate the progression of this team. The new direction the club took by not signing anymore of the Messis, Neymars and the Mbappes. Going younger, more cohesion in the team.

A win like this is huge. It's huge for the confidence, it's huge because you have beaten the best team in Europe. Now you are going to believe you can beat anybody.

Luis Enrique certainly looked to be enjoying the format last night after watching his Paris St-Germain side upset all the odds to overturn a first-leg deficit at Anfield.

The former Barca boss celebrated on the pitch with his players, in front of the jubilant PSG fans, but gathered himself in his post-match news conference, when he admitted Liverpool were unlucky to bow out at the last-16 stage.

"Both of the teams deserve to go to the next phase," he said.

"They played better than us here, but I think my team at Anfield, in a special stadium showed great personality and character.

"I think it shows clearly the team we are."

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