Liverpool secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, thanks to Harvey Elliott’s late strike and a heroic performance from goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
The match was filled with controversy, as PSG had a goal disallowed and felt they were denied a clear red card decision. In the 20th minute, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia thought he had given the French side the lead with a superb curling effort, but VAR ruled him offside by the finest of margins. Later, Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konaté escaped punishment for a challenge on Bradley Barcola, sparking outrage among PSG supporters and pundits alike.
Despite dominating possession and creating numerous chances, PSG struggled to find a way past Alisson, who made nine crucial saves to keep the hosts at bay. The Brazilian goalkeeper denied Kvaratskhelia, Barcola, and Ousmane Dembélé, frustrating Luis Enrique’s side, who registered 27 shots to Liverpool’s two.
The decisive moment came in the 87th minute. Alisson launched a long kick forward, Darwin Núñez won the aerial duel, and Elliott just 46 seconds after coming on scored with his first touch, beating Gianluigi Donnarumma with a well-placed finish.
PSG, unbeaten in 23 matches before this game, now face an uphill battle ahead of the second leg at Anfield. Despite their dominance, they failed to capitalise on their chances, much like their 2023 defeat to Borussia Dortmund, where they also lost despite having the second-most shots on record without scoring.
With Liverpool holding a slender advantage, the return leg promises to be another thrilling encounter. Can PSG turn things around, or will Liverpool’s resilience see them through to the quarter-finals?
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