Liverpool left it late but secured a crucial 1-0 victory over PSG at the Parc des Princes in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie. Harvey Elliott’s strike in the 87th minute proved to be the difference as Arne Slot’s side absorbed relentless pressure before landing a decisive blow, with Alisson producing a world class performance to keep the hosts at bay.
Liverpool will take a slender advantage back to Anfield for the second leg, knowing a disciplined performance will be enough to seal their quarter-final place. PSG, meanwhile, will need to rediscover their clinical edge to keep their European hopes alive.
As It Happened
PSG dominated proceedings from the outset, with Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé tormenting the Liverpool backline. The hosts thought they had taken the lead in the 20th minute when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia curled a sublime effort past Alisson, only for VAR to rule him marginally offside.
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There was controversy in the 26th minute, as Konaté barged into the back of Barcola as he was through on goal. After a VAR check for a potential red card, the French international was let off the hook in his capital city, but it was an incredibly lucky escape for the visitors.
Liverpool, pinned back for much of the first half, struggled to gain a foothold but held firm thanks to Alisson’s heroics. The Brazilian goalkeeper produced a string of top-class saves, denying Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, and Vitinha, as PSG piled on the pressure.
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The pattern continued in the second half, with the hosts squandering multiple chances. Alisson was at full stretch to deny Désiré Doué’s curling effort in the 80th minute before Nuno Mendes fired a dangerous cross that evaded everyone in the box.
Then, in the 87th minute, Liverpool struck against the run of play. Alisson launched a long ball forward, which Darwin Núñez expertly controlled before teeing up Elliott. With his first touch, the young midfielder calmly slotted the ball beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma into the far corner, stunning the home crowd.
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PSG mounted a desperate late push, but Liverpool’s defence, marshalled by Virgil van Dijk and Konaté, held firm to secure a valuable away win.
The result will go down as one of the ultimate smash-and-grab wins in recent Champions League history, but for now, Liverpool will return their attention to the Premier League, as they host basement boys Southampton on Saturday.
As for PSG, they’ll be astonished they couldn’t score at least one goal. A trip to Rennes on Saturday will give them the opportunity to build some confidence before the grand stand away leg at Anfield next Tuesday.
The lineups
PSG: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Ruiz; Kvaratskhelia, Dembélé, Barcola.
LIV: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Díaz; Jota.