Jamie Carragher, a former defender for Liverpool, was left inconsolable after Arne Slot’s team lost to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday night via penalty shootout after failing to win two crucial calls. After 120 minutes at Anfield, with the final score tied at 1-1, Achraf Hakimi appeared to have won the coin toss, guaranteeing that the penalties would be taken at the Anfield Road End, directly in front of the French supporters who were travelling.
Then, in an intriguing turn of events, PSG took the first penalty of the shootout, which Vitinha converted. Carragher discussed that in the following full interview:
One aspect of the penalties that I found difficult to understand was that Virgil van Dijk [and PSG’s captain] obviously had to flip a coin. Not only did PSG take the first penalty, but they also had to win it to get to the other end [away from the Kop]. I therefore had no idea what had transpired there. Usually, the opposing team gets the first penalty and you only get one advantage, but PSG deserved to win.
😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/yhJlkFJS4L
— one (@ONE_AMN) March 11, 2025
Carragher was perplexed by Liverpool’s double disadvantage against PSG, but he was quickly enlightened by former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg, who explained why the Reds were sadly given a difficult task before the lottery of a shootout in which Gianluigi Donnarumma saved the attempts of Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones.
Why PSG Chose Who Took the First Penalty and at Which End
Achraf Hakimi gave his team a massive advantage
“I think Liverpool would love it at the Kop, of course, but it’s up to the referee,” Clattenberg stated in a commentary.
Which side of the coin it is is up to the referee. One side of the pitch will correspond to one side of the coin, and the opposite side will correspond to the other side. The captains will then make a decision, and if he’s fortunate, he’ll choose to take the first or second penalty. However, the referee will decide which end it will be at the first coin toss.
PSG win the coin toss and will take the first penalty… 😱#UCLonPrime pic.twitter.com/rzJ4ccNqx5
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) March 11, 2025
According to the Athletic, the law requiring a single coin toss to prevent double advantage was modified in 2016. In summary, it seems that Carragher is not aware of the most recent modifications to the rules. PSG supporters undoubtedly took full use of this newfound advantage, as one fan was seen utilising a loudhailer to divert the attention of the home team.
In the Champions League quarterfinal, PSG will now take on the victor of Aston Villa vs. Club Brugge. Although the Reds lost badly in the knockout stages despite winning the first league phase, their standing in the Premier League title race and their advancement to the League Cup final mean Arne Slot’s team shouldn’t be overly discouraged against a well-prepared Enrique team.
