In a Champions League last-16 first-leg clash, Liverpool secured a surprising 1-0 victory over Paris St-Germain at Anfield, defying a torrent of attacks from Luis Enrique’s men.
Harvey Elliott’s late strike against the run of play ended PSG’s 22-game unbeaten streak and a 10-game winning run in all competitions.
PSG, who commanded possession and peppered the Liverpool goal with 27 shots — the second-most in a Champions League knockout match for a losing side since 2003-04 — were left stunned.
Ironically, the French side also holds the record for most shots without scoring in a knockout match, with 30 efforts in their semi-final defeat by Borussia Dortmund last season.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson was named man of the match for his heroic performance, making nine crucial saves to deny PSG’s formidable attack.
In stark contrast, PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma was left helpless as Elliott’s precise finish from Liverpool’s sole shot on target sealed the Reds’ victory with just three minutes to go.
Speaking after the match, PSG boss Luis Enrique struggled to mask his frustration despite a positive facade. “I don’t think it’s too difficult to analyse tonight’s game. We were far superior to Liverpool,” Enrique remarked.
“We created more chances and produced a complete performance against one of Europe’s top sides. Football can be unfair at times.”
The Spanish manager remained defiant about PSG’s chances of overturning the deficit in the return leg. “Without a doubt [we can go through].
We’ve only played the first leg. We’re a side with nothing to lose. If we can replicate tonight’s performance, we can qualify,” Enrique asserted.
PSG’s attacking duo, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele, were a constant menace, especially in the first half, combining for 13 shots with six on target. Yet, Alisson’s resilience in goal and Liverpool’s disciplined defence prevented them from breaking the deadlock.
Enrique’s assessment was candid: “We deserved more. Their best player was their goalkeeper — he was magnificent today. Today wasn’t a game based on the stats or the details. We were far superior. We didn’t allow Liverpool to play.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Arne Slot admitted that his side was fortunate to escape with a win. “Had we got a draw, we would still have been the lucky ones.
They were much the better team today,” Slot acknowledged. “It’s a good result for us, but we felt the quality of Paris.”
Slot praised Enrique’s tactical setup, which had Liverpool on the ropes for much of the game. “Every underlying stat shows you they were the best side in the Champions League. I wasn’t surprised at how good they were,” he added.
With the second leg looming in Paris, Liverpool will need another inspired performance to advance, while PSG will hope to convert their dominance into goals to keep their Champions League hopes alive.