Liverpool will take a 1-0 lead back to Anfield in their Champions League last-16 tie with Paris Saint-Germain.
Arne Slot’s side rode their luck on a testing night in the French capital, withstanding huge pressure from PSG before snatching a late win.
Harvey Elliott scored the decisive goal on 87 minutes, just 46 seconds after his introduction from the bench. The midfielder fired past Gianluigi Donnarumma with his first touch and only Liverpool’s second effort on goal of the contest.
A magical moment in Paris for Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott 🇫🇷✨#UCL pic.twitter.com/R1xqXMZVj4
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 5, 2025
PSG had dominated from start to finish with the in-form Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia outstanding for the home side. The French champions fired 27 shots on goal, with only an outstanding performance from Alisson keeping the game goalless. Alisson proved to be a one-man barrier against the PSG pressure, making a string of superb stops at the Parc des Princes.
On a fortuitous night for Liverpool, Kvaratskhelia had a brilliant goal in the first half disallowed by VAR for a fractional offside.
VAR again sided in Liverpool’s favour when Ibrahima Konate avoided a red card for a last man shove on Bradley Barcola. The Frenchman appeared to foul Barcola to deny PSG a clear goalscoring chance, but VAR determined the referee – who had not blown for a foul – had not made a clear and obvious area.
The second half followed in a similar pattern with PSG pinning Liverpool back. Trent Alexander-Arnold defended well after recent criticism of his defensive work, though the Reds were occasionally all at sea.
As chance after chance went begging for PSG, the stage was set for a smash and grab. Two of Slot’s substitutes combined, as Darwin Nunez battled for possession before setting the ball into the path of the onrushing Elliott.
On as a replacement for Mohamed Salah just seconds earlier, Elliott caressed a finish into the far corner that Donnarumma could not keep out.
Liverpool lead in the tie ahead of next week’s return at Anfield and will start as favourites. For much of a testing night in Paris, the Reds looked far from the likeliest side to succeed.
