Liverpool headed into Tuesday’s Champions League clash against PSG knowing they’d have to up their game from last week’s win in Paris.
Despite playing poorly at the Parc des Princes, the Reds went into the second-leg with a fortuitous 1-0 lead.
With PSG exceedingly confident of overturning Liverpool’s lead at Anfield, there was extra incentive for Arne Slot’s team to start quickly.
And that’s exactly what they did, with Mohamed Salah unlucky not to score with two good openings.
Liverpool were soon behind to an Ousmane Dembele goal, but before the Frenchman pounced on Ibrahima Konate’s mistake, Virgil van Dijk went close with a header.
And after seeing his captain almost break the deadlock, substitute Federico Chiesa was spotted reacting brilliantly on the Liverpool bench.
Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Federico Chiesa kicking every ball for Liverpool
Chiesa has not had a kick for Liverpool since putting in a disappointing performance during the FA Cup defeat against Plymouth in January.
His misery was compounded on Saturday as Slot chose not to turn to the Italian despite fielding six substitutes against Southampton.
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It looks fairly clear that Chiesa has no future at Liverpool, but that hasn’t stopped him from living his best life with the Reds.
As spotted by journalist Lewis Steele during Tuesday’s game, Chiesa was absolutely enthralled by the action happening in front of him.
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“Doesn’t play much but Federico Chiesa is so passionate on the bench,” Steele says on X. “Kicking every ball as they say.
“When Virgil van Dijk had that header just, the Italian jumped out of his seat and leapt about two metres forward.”
Liverpool better against PSG
Although Liverpool did concede first against PSG, it was comfortably a better performance than what the Reds served up in Paris and on Saturday against Southampton.
“So, so much better than last week from Liverpool, playing on the front foot,” co-commentator Alan Shearer said on Amazon Prime Sport.
“Every single player is pressing, not giving any player in blue time to settle, time to get a rhythm on the game. They’re really playing on the front foot.”
With the Anfield crowd giving it everything, Liverpool responded and more than matched their Parisian visitors.