Despite the exhilarating 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool’s head coach Arne Slot was not ready to let his young star, Harvey Elliott, off the hook. After his match-winning performance, Elliott was reportedly required to return to the pitch for a warm-down session, a testament to Slot’s unyieldingly high standards.
Elliott, who had been brought on as a replacement for Mohamed Salah, proved to be the game-changer with his decisive goal. The young striker should have been in the changing room, basking in their victory, according to BBC Sport’s live blog. However, demonstrating his intense commitment to discipline and fitness, Slot asked him to join the other substitutes for a post-match warm-down, even as Liverpool’s fans celebrated their victory in the stands.
In the post-match analysis, Slot lauded Alisson Becker, the team’s goalkeeper, claiming him to be the finest in the world. The match was a classic case of a last-minute victory, with Elliott’s late goal sealing the deal for Liverpool. However, the hero of the match was indisputably Becker.
Paris Saint-Germain had been in control from the kickoff, unleashing a staggering 29 shots at the goal, with 10 on target. However, they found Becker to be an insurmountable obstacle. The Brazilian keeper repeatedly thwarted attempts by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, and Bradley Barcola, much to the chagrin of the home team fans.
By the break, PSG could have led the match by 4-0 had Becker not intervened. His remarkable reflexes, strategic positioning, and stellar composure under immense pressure kept Liverpool in the game, ultimately enabling them to claim an unexpected win.
Expressing his admiration for his goalkeeper’s performance, Slot told TNT Sports, “I don’t believe there is a goalkeeper that played at this level, which is normal because he’s the best in the world,” further adding that having the world’s best goalkeeper in his team was a new experience for him. Slot confessed that he never thought his team would have to defend so much and still manage to secure a 1-0, or even a 2-0 or 3-0 victory.
Slot’s high standards, as demonstrated by his decision to send Elliott back onto the pitch for a warm-down despite his match-winning performance, reflect his commitment to discipline and rigour, traits that will undoubtedly continue to shape Liverpool’s future performances.