Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk praised every impact player during the Paris Saint-Germain victory, including Wataru Endo and Curtis Jones, while talking about Harvey Elliot and Darwin Nunez combining to score the late winner. The Reds secured a 0-1 away win against PSG in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16.
Liverpool had to defend for most of the away game, failing to find relief due to the lack of outlets. Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz performed poorly, while legendary forward Mohamed Salah was completely marked out of the game.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot showcased his brilliant on-game analytical mindset and made important substitutions in the second half. He brought Nunez and Jones on for Jota and Diaz in the 67th minute of the game to relieve pressure.
Liverpool players celebrating their late victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
Liverpool players celebrating their late victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.
The Dutchman also substituted Ryan Gravenberch for Endo in the second half to provide more defensive formidability. During the latter stages, Slot replaced Salah for Elliott despite the visible unhappiness of the legendary Egyptian.
Elliot made an instant impact by scoring an 87th-minute goal after Nunez controlled a long ball from Alisson Becker. Liverpool thoroughly lacked what Nunez provided at the crucial time: the ability to hold the ball and find his teammate.
Providing the Programme Notes to Liverpoolfc.com, Van Dijk praised the impact of Endo, Jones, Elliott and Nunez against Paris SG. He said:
“Harvey Elliott and Darwin Nunez combined for the winning goal, but don’t overlook the contributions of Wataru Endo and Curtis Jones either. They showed exactly the right attitude coming into a tough game, and helped secure the advantage for us.”
Many players have struggled to receive a significant game time that they would have liked during this season. However, their constant desire to make an impact and produce positive results for the club, fans and their head coach is worthy of every praise.
More Liverpool News:
Liverpool needs the whole squad to continue pitching in with impactful performances until the end of the season. Van Dijk’s team will face Southampton on Saturday in the Premier League clash, hoping to further solidify their grip on the league title.