Harvey Elliott scored with his first touch just 46 seconds after coming on as a substitute to give Liverpool a dramatic 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie at the Parc des Princes.
Elliott’s 87th-minute strike, set up by Darwin Núñez after a long kick from Alisson, gave Arne Slot’s side an unlikely win despite being dominated for large spells. PSG, unbeaten in 22 matches across all competitions, had 28 shots to Liverpool’s two and controlled over 70% of possession, but failed to break through.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia thought he had put the hosts ahead in the first half, only for his effort to be ruled out for a marginal offside following a VAR check. Luis Enrique’s side created numerous chances, with Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, and Kvaratskhelia all testing Alisson, but the Brazilian goalkeeper produced a heroic display, making nine saves—the most ever recorded by a Liverpool keeper in a Champions League match.
Liverpool, who were without Cody Gakpo, struggled to threaten Gianluigi Donnarumma’s goal. Mohamed Salah was kept quiet, and it appeared the Reds would fail to score for just the fourth time this season. However, Elliott’s goal ensured they take a crucial lead back to Anfield for the second leg.
For PSG, the defeat mirrored their struggles earlier in the competition, when they failed to convert dominance into goals against Arsenal, Atlético Madrid, and Bayern Munich. Despite their attacking strength, they now face an uphill battle in England.
If Liverpool complete the job at home, they will set up a quarter-final clash against either Aston Villa or Club Brugge. With Anfield’s atmosphere behind them, they will be confident of progressing.
