Paris Saint-Germain 0-1 Liverpool: Alisson’s heroics and Harvey Elliott’s goal result in an incredible smash-and-grab victory
Goalie Alisson of Liverpool was named the player of the match in Paris as Harvey Elliott’s late winner in the Parc des Princes stunned Paris Saint-Germain and gave Liverpool a 1-0 lead going into their Champions League second leg back at Anfield.
Ibrahima Konate was lucky not to be sent off, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s incredible goal was disallowed for offside, but the Premier League leaders stole the show when Elliott swept home in the 87th minute. Arne Slot’s team had to deal with 27 of the game’s 29 shots.
Although Liverpool has won a lot of big games under Slot this season, it seems likely that they will value this even more. Although PSG will undoubtedly feel that they missed their opportunity in Paris, they produced enough on Tuesday to pose a threat back at Anfield.
Liverpool has a strong case to be the best team in Europe at the moment, starting with a 13-point lead in the Premier League and winning the league phase in this new Champions League format. Slot countered, “Before you can say this, we must win it.”
PSG, on a run of 10 wins on the bounce coming into this, seemed to agree, tearing into Liverpool and creating chance after chance in the first half. They needed a few close VAR calls to go their way and Alisson at his best in order to reach the break-even point.
After Kvaratskhelia was acquired during the transfer window, Slot claimed that PSG had “three fighter jets” in attack. Luis Enrique had since watched his team win every game in which his front three started before this match.
Given the performances by Ousmane Dembele and the Georgian, it was clear why. Kvaratskhelia curled the ball brilliantly into the corner, but it was just offside. Konate then obviously shoved Bradley Barcola, but the officials somehow missed it.
Despite their losses this season, Liverpool has never had to withstand such a barrage; Alisson made a save against Dembele. Barcola blocked Dominik Szoboszlai. Joao Neves also came very close. Slot acknowledged that he would have preferred to play Benfica, which is understandable.
Late in the game, substitute Desire Doue made the best save of the game when Alisson ducked to his left to stop the ball from going straight into the far corner. When Elliott, who was brought on as a replacement for the reserved Mohamed Salah, had his moment, those bravery moments proved to be pivotal.
Who else but Alisson initiated the move when he went long to Darwin Nunez? The striker did a fantastic job of holding the ball up and displaying poise by spreading it widely into Elliott’s path. It was Gianluigi Donnarumma’s responsibility to perform better. Liverpool won’t give a damn.
Player ratings:
PSG: Donnarumma (4); Hakimi (7), Marquinhos (7), Pacho (7), Nuno Mendes (8); Vitinha (8), Ruiz (7), Joao Neves (7); Kvaratskhelia (8), Dembele (8), Barcola (7).
Subs: Doue (7), Ramos (6), Zaire-Emery (6).
Liverpool: Alisson (10); Alexander-Arnold (8), Van Dijk (8), Konate (6), Robertson (7); Gravenberch (6), Mac Allister (6), Szoboszlai (7); Diaz (5), Jota (5), Salah (5).
Subs: Nunez (7), Jones (6), Endo (6), Elliott (8).
Player of the Match: Alisson.