Although they lost against Paris Saint-Germain in fairly convincing fashion on Wednesday, Liverpool fans can still take some positives from the match.
The Reds did not play well at all at the Parc des Princes, and the eventual 2-0 scoreline means they are likely heading out of the competition after next week’s second-leg at Anfield.
However, the promising return of Alexander Isak in particular should give supporters hope that better days lie ahead, while Giorgi Mamardashvili showed that Liverpool are in safe hands between the sticks until Alisson returns.
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Jeremie Frimpong takes throw-in for Liverpool in front of Arne Slot
Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP via Getty Images
Positive number one: Isak looks surprisingly sharp
While the big team news on Wednesday was that Mohamed Salah was left out of the starting XI, it was perhaps slightly overlooked that he was joined on the bench by Isak.
The Swede came on for the final 15 minutes, and though it was impossible for him to make any kind of real impact on the game, he looked sharp for a player who has missed more than three months.
There were some nice touches thrown in, and, for all the lack of service around him, Isak’s movement up front was encouraging.
If Liverpool are to stand any chance of turning things around next week, and indeed to finish as high as possible in the Premier League, their No. 9 is going to be key. It was a small cameo, but there was enough in there to see how Isak can be the difference-maker Arne Slot has been craving.
Paris Saint-Germain FC v Liverpool FC - UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg
Photo by Ibrahim Ezzat/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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Positive number two: Mamardashvili proves his quality
It was during last year’s clash with PSG that Alisson showed just how pivotal he is to Liverpool’s success.
The memory of the Brazilian’s ridiculous display cannot have helped Mamardashvili heading into Wednesday’s game, but if he was feeling the weight of taking on starting duties, then he did not show it.
The Georgian has found things tough going since joining Liverpool, but his performance at the Parc des Princes was easily his best so far for the club.
Without his key saves from Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Liverpool would have been well and truly out of the tie already. As he faces a spell of at least three or four matches between the sticks, Reds fans should now have far more confidence that their number two can step up.
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Anything else for fans to cling onto?
At a time of doom and gloom for the football club, supporters should cling to any form of positivity that they can, and these are two things which could be genuinely game-changing for them in what remains of the season.
Isak’s return will surely be good for a few goals at least, while Mamardashvili now looks settled and capable of keeping them out at the other end.
Meanwhile, there is some joy to be had in the return to form of Joe Gomez, while fans have also been granted one of their biggest wishes with Cody Gakpo coming out of the team.
But, most of all, the biggest positive of the lot is perhaps that the end of such a miserable season is finally coming right into view. There is not much left to suffer before a long break and a reset for everyone. Before then, though, do not count Liverpool out just yet.
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