In a thrilling encounter at Parc Des Princes on Wednesday night, Liverpool edged past Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) 1-0 in the first leg of the Champions League. It was an unexpected victory, snatched against the flow of play by young midfielder Harvey Elliott, whose maiden touch of the game turned out to be a match-winning one, shattering the hopes of the Parisians in the dying moments.
Despite PSG’s dominance over the game, Liverpool managed to stay afloat, thanks largely to a stellar performance by their goalkeeper, Alisson. The Brazilian’s heroics under the bar, which included nine saves, kept Liverpool in the game even as PSG bombarded their defense relentlessly.
The home side, PSG, exhibited a breathtaking display of free-flowing football, controlling over 70 percent of the game’s possession and unleashing a staggering 27 shots at the Liverpool goal. However, the Reds’ resilience held firm, and they managed to keep their sheet clean.
One of the standout performances of the night came from PSG’s winger Kvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose goal was disallowed due to an offside in the build-up. Nevertheless, the dynamism and delicacy he displayed in the build-up to the goal embodied PSG’s successful strategy on the night.
Ousmane Dembele also shone brightly. If the form of PSG’s forwards is a barometer of their future performance, then the Parisians are likely to emerge as a formidable force in Europe.
Given the strength of Liverpool’s line-up, the Reds’ sluggish performance on the night was surprising. It was a testament to PSG’s capability to compete with the best in Europe, despite the absence of any ‘global superstars’ in their squad anymore.
Football icon and ex-PSG midfielder David Beckham was among the spectators, watching as his former team took on Liverpool.
The late goal by Liverpool drained the energy out of PSG, who now face the daunting task of travelling to Anfield for the second leg next Tuesday. They need to score at least two goals to progress further in the competition. Based on their performance in the first leg, that task seems challenging but not impossible.