Arne Slot coaches Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool at the Parc des Princes Stadium
Liverpool pulled off a Parisian heist on Wednesday evening when they beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 courtesy of an 87-minute winner from Harvey Elliott and a stunning, Man of the Match performance from goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
It makes the Reds firm favourites to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals when they entertain PSG at Anfield on Tuesday evening.
And so continues a superb debut season for Arne Slot, whose side also sit 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League table with a Carabao Cup final against Newcastle to come. Here's how our LFC fan jury viewed the win in Paris:
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James Noble (Worcestershire, @james_noble98) - Alisson a force of nature
Wednesday night was arguably an occasion where both sides came away with their standing in the European game bolstered.
It was widely recognised before, but it’s now additionally evident just how accomplished an outfit Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain are. Liverpool, meanwhile, again showed their mettle, again showed they could suffer well, again showed they can plot various routes to victory.
Alisson Becker was the serene force of nature at the heart of that effort. The Brazilian’s nine saves headlined a goalkeeping display that was as masterful as many can remember.
Darwin Núñez setting up Harvey Elliott’s late winner was so pleasing, while Curtis Jones and Wataru Endō’s introductions were another pair of effective in-game changes from Arne Slot.
The various first-leg learnings can both focus minds and embolden belief ahead of Tuesday’s Anfield return. It hardly needs saying, but it’s clear we’ll have to be right at it on the pitch and in the stands. The adaptability displayed at the Parc des Princes, and elsewhere this term, is one of several elements that give us a genuine chance of going the distance in the Champions League.
We’ve got Southampton’s visit on Saturday first, of course. It may be another day where the squad’s strength will be underlined as we look to take another step towards the Premier League title.
Andrew Cullen (Widnes, @brothersred5) - Liverpool took leaf out of Real Madrid book
In a successful season, in a title winning season, sometimes you need to rely upon your attack, and sometimes you need to rely on your defence.
We all know how immaculate Alisson is as a keeper, but on big nights, against the biggest opposition, you really see just how lucky we are to have him. Big saves in big moments in big games.
We have often seen PSG crumble in big European games, but last night they were resolute, hungry and elegant. They looked skilful, athletic and electric in attack. PSG’s transformation may be because they have lost many of the indomitable egos that resided for many years at the Parc des Princes.
We have been lauded as the best team in Europe this season, and for good reason. But last night, we were second best. It may have been because of season fatigue, or it may have been because of PSG’s home advantage. However, we know all too well that these big European games are seldom settled in the first dust up, and we know that Anfield provides a unique advantage on European nights. What is certain is that we will need to be more aggressive, creative and energetic.
We have to hope that the game narrative alters for the second leg and that PSG are the ones ducking and diving on the ropes. It’s easy to say with hindsight, but a bulkier midfield may have stemmed the constant PSG waves of attack, but who cares. It was a smash and grab. Real Madrid often lift the big trophies without always outplaying their opposition, and this Liverpool team seem to have this champion’s grit .
The delightful late winner made the stress and strain of holding out all game worth the endurance.
Rhys Buchanan (Aigburth, @Rhys_Buchanan) - Cruel world for PSG
My French is rusty at the best of times but I could easily grasp the headlines in the Parisian papers on the Eurostar back from the French capital yesterday, with one reading MONDE CRUEL with a picture of Bradley Barcola pulling his shirt over his head in agony and disbelief on the front page.
The PSG fans have every right to feel that way after a career-defining performance from Allison Becker and the late heroics of young Harvey Elliott.
We’re going to have to soak up plenty more pressure during the home leg at Anfield next week, but if we can topple this deadly PSG side then the sky should surely be the limit for the Reds in Europe this season.