By LUKE POWER
Published: 15:59 EST, 5 March 2025 | Updated: 16:15 EST, 5 March 2025
Liverpool breathed an almighty sigh of relief in the first half of their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain as their French hosts had a goal ruled out.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's stunning strike looked to have given PSG a deserved lead in an opening half which they dominated at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.
However, the Georgian was ruled offside by the semi-automated VAR technology because the back of his left foot strayed slightly beyond Ryan Gravenberch.
Somehow, the Reds made it into half-time level at 0-0 despite facing a siege of Alisson's goal.
PSG had 12 shots to Liverpool's one and had 68 per cent of the ball.
Many felt Ibrahima Konate was fortunate to escape a sending-off for a last-man challenge on Bradley Barcola just outside the box which saw the PSG man fall, but a VAR check decided he was not guilty.
LIverpool had a lucky escape when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's first-half goal was ruled out
The PSG star strayed marginally offside, which was picked up by semi-automatic technology
Liverpool were hounded by PSG and fortunate to escape with the score still 0-0 at half-time
Joao Neves missed a golden opportunity early on to put the French Champions ahead, hitting the bar with a botched effort after Ousmane Dembele's cross.
Alisson was later called into action to deny a long-range stinger from Kvaratskhelia as the onslaught continued.
Around the half-hour mark, Dembele burst past Virgl van Dijk far too easily but was spurned by Alisson, with Dominik Szoboszlai throwing himself in the way of Barcola's follow-up.
Before the break, Alisson was again needed to deny a red-hot Kvaratskhelia as he powered a low drive towards goal.
Liverpool knew that they were in for a fire and brimstone test of their credentials going into a tie with one of Europe's most scintillating teams.
PSG remain unbeaten in the league, having won 19 and drawn four of their 24 games this Ligue 1 campaign.
In the knock-out play-off round they blasted fellow French side Brest 10-0 on aggregate and much has been made of the form of Dembele, who came into the clash with 18 goals already in 2025.