Liverpool put one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday after a smash-and-grab 1-0 win over PSG.
The Reds hardly deserved victory but held out under intense pressure from the Parisians to claim their reward at the end.
Although PSG are confident heading to Anfield for the return leg, they will have their work cut out to knock Liverpool out.
For most of Wednesday’s game, it had looked like the French champions would be travelling to Merseyside with a healthy lead in the bag.
Alisson Becker had to be at his best to keep out a potent attack of Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Thankfully for Liverpool, Alisson stood firm.
And although they had to count on their goalkeeper for help, Gabriel Agbonlahor has claimed that Liverpool did something their Premier League rivals would never have managed at the Parc des Princes.
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images
Arsenal would have folded against PSG pressure
Watching the first-half of Wednesday’s game was something akin to torture for Liverpool fans.
Wave after wave of PSG attacks rolled in, with the Reds simply unable to get any kind of foothold in proceedings.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
The backs to the wall nature of the win is arguably what make it all the more satisfying, though.
Speaking on TalkSPORT on Thursday morning, Agbonlahor claims the ‘grit’ Liverpool showed to come through with a win would not have been replicated by Arsenal, Chelsea or Man City.
READ MORE: Arne Slot gives verdict on how Trent Alexander-Arnold did up against Khvicha Kvaratskhelia during PSG 0-1 Liverpool
“Liverpool showed grit,” said the former Aston Villa striker. “Even though they were poor they showed grit.
“I feel like teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City have already lost there, they would have folded. It could have been three or four.”
Agbonlahor unimpressed by Liverpool midfield
Although Agbonlahor was happy enough with the steeliness shown by Liverpool to get the win on Wednesday, he was far from impressed with individual performances.
“Liverpool just couldn’t get going,” he said. “Salah was man-marked out of the game by Mendes at left-back, he had nothing. Jota and Diaz were poor.
“I thought midfield that’s probably the worst game I’ve seen Gravenberch have as well. Szoboszlai and Mac Allister couldn’t get anywhere near that phenomenal midfield of PSG.”
They may have gotten away with it where others would have fallen, but Liverpool are going to have to be so much better at Anfield next Tuesday.
But after coming through the most difficult part of the tie unscathed, they should be looking ahead with firm eyes on the quarter-final.