Laurens: PSG made Liverpool 'look ordinary, like Ligue 1 team' in 1-0 defeat
Video credit: TNT Sports
Julien Laurens said that Paris Saint-Germain "made Liverpool look ordinary" in their UEFA Champions League clash, despite the Reds leaving Paris with a 1-0 win.
Arne Slot's side withstood huge pressure over almost 90 minutes before Harvey Elliot scored the winner for Liverpool.
The Parisians were in control for almost the entirety of the match but, thanks to Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and his nine saves, the visitors hung on.
"We've seen them before when you don't take your chances," Laurens said about PSG. "Dominating is not winning. You can be ahead in all the stats, you can outplay your opponent. I think PSG made Liverpool look ordinary at times, certainly with the ball going forward.
"Defensively, they were solid. Alisson was amazing, one of the best goalkeepers in the world. But Salah and Diaz, Jota, even Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, didn't really look like the Liverpool of this season.
"PSG forced them to long play, forced them to not be at their best and I thought PSG were outstanding. It's such a fantastic young team, but it's a young team. You saw them today, if it's not happening for you in the 85th minute, just see the game out and get a draw."
Highlights: Super-sub Elliott gives Liverpool valuable first-leg lead over PSG
Video credit: TNT Sports
"At times, they made them play like some of the Ligue 1 teams that come here and play quite deep and play on the counter. This is not the Liverpool team that we've been used to, so credit to PSG for that. It was still not enough because they could not beat Alisson and credit to Liverpool for being resilient.
"But from a PSG point of view, I thought they were outstanding."
Laurens noted that it echoed a similar PSG performance in the league phase, where they were unable to turn dominance against Atletico Madrid into goals and the Spaniards snuck away a late goal just like Liverpool did in Paris.
"Instead, it was quite reminiscent of the game against Atletic Madrid in the league phase where they were super dominant, and the last kick of the game they conceded the second goal from Atletico. It looked like they haven't learnt much from that Atletico game because the same happened tonight."
Salah has to win the Champions League to claim Ballon d’Or glory - McManaman
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PSG now have the unenviable task of going to Anfield for the second leg, where they have not lost a game since September.
As evidenced tonight, PSG's exciting and positive attacking style can cause trouble for any side, but implementing that at Anfield where the Kop will imbue Liverpool with an added vigour will be a mountainous task.
"Home and away they always play the same. This is very much Luis Enrique's style, and yeah, it might be more difficult to put that in place at Anfield.
"Liverpool can't have another game like tonight. That's not gonna happen next week and I think PSG know it. They will have to go for it and that might be costly because they have to attack.
"They will go there with their style and believe they can do it. Last season, they overturned the tie against Barcelona, but this Liverpool team is so much more resilient."
'OF COURSE, WE ARE GOING TO DO IT'
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PSG boss Luis Enrique was pleased with his side's performance despite ending up on the losing side.
"It’s difficult to think about the match in a positive way because I think we deserved to win, clearly. We created a lot of chances," the Spaniard told TNT Sports.
"I think it’s one of the best matches that we did in the Champions League this season.
Watch Alisson's key match-winning saves in Liverpool's dramatic victory over PSG
Video credit: TNT Sports
"When you think that the best player of Liverpool was their goalkeeper, Alisson, football is unfair and we have to accept that. But we are ready to \[go to\] Liverpool.
"We don’t have anything to lose. I think we’ve overcome Liverpool. Liverpool is the best team in Europe and today they almost create one or two chances maximum and we created a lot. I feel proud of my players, my team, of the supporters."
When asked if PSG can surmount the uphill battle ahead of them against the most resilient of sides, Enrique finished with a simple yet confident response.
"Of course, we are going to do it."
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