Alisson’s Heroics and Elliott’s Late Strike Hand Liverpool Crucial Win Over PSG in Champions League Clash
Liverpool secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash at Parc des Princes. A late goal from Harvey Elliott and a masterclass performance from goalkeeper Alisson Becker handed the Reds a vital advantage ahead of the return leg at Anfield.
Liverpool Withstand Early PSG Pressure
Both teams came into the match on top of their respective domestic leagues, with PSG and Liverpool boasting 13-point leads. However, the European stage proved to be a different battleground, with PSG dominating possession and creating numerous chances in the opening half.
The hosts looked more dangerous in the early exchanges, with Ibrahima Konaté forced into a vital block to deny Bradley Barcola’s goal-bound shot. Moments later, Fabián Ruiz fired the rebound wide, letting Liverpool off the hook.
PSG’s attacking trio of Ousmane Dembélé, João Neves, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia kept Liverpool’s backline under constant pressure. A swift counterattack saw Dembélé pick out Neves, whose shot bounced off the turf and over the crossbar. Dembélé himself was then denied by Virgil van Dijk’s crucial deflection moments later.
Kvaratskhelia thought he had given PSG the lead with a stunning strike, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a marginal VAR check. The Georgian winger continued to test Liverpool’s defense, forcing Alisson into multiple saves.
Alisson Stands Tall as PSG Ramp Up Attacks
PSG continued to suffocate Liverpool in the first half, keeping them pinned in their own half. Achraf Hakimi and Kvaratskhelia both had long-range efforts saved by Alisson, who was beginning to look like the only thing standing between PSG and a comfortable lead.
On the half-hour mark, Alisson produced a moment of brilliance, rushing off his line to block a one-on-one chance against Dembélé before Barcola had back-to-back shots blocked, first by Dominik Szoboszlai and then firing over the crossbar.
Alisson Becker against PSG
What a goalkeeperpic.twitter.com/p8eKauqS5r
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) March 5, 2025
The Brazilian shot-stopper was once again called into action, making an acrobatic save to keep out another powerful shot from Kvaratskhelia, ensuring Liverpool reached halftime with the score still level.
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Liverpool Struggle to Create but Stay in the Game
While PSG continued their relentless pressure, Liverpool struggled to create attacking opportunities. Mohamed Salah found himself locked in a battle with Nuno Mendes, who expertly nullified the Egyptian’s threat down the right flank.
Arne Slot introduced Darwin Núñez in an attempt to shake up the attack, but the Uruguayan’s eagerness led to an awkward collision with PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma as he chased a loose ball.
Les Parisiens substitute Désiré Doué added more energy to PSG’s attack and nearly broke the deadlock with a powerful shot that forced yet another outstanding save from Alisson. Dembélé also tested the Brazilian with a curling effort, but Liverpool’s No. 1 remained unbeatable.
Super-Sub Elliott Makes the Difference
Despite being on the back foot for most of the match, Liverpool snatched a goal against the run of play in the 86th minute. Just 47 seconds after coming off the bench, Harvey Elliott made an instant impact.
Harvey Elliot goal against PSG, What a strike pic.twitter.com/H0bJ2wtzf6
— footballscores (@Richesafterpain) March 5, 2025
A quick Liverpool counterattack saw Núñez slide the ball across the penalty area, where Elliott arrived at the perfect time to slot home past Donnarumma with his first touch. The goal silenced the Parc des Princes crowd and put Liverpool in control of the tie.
Liverpool End PSG’s Impressive Streaks
Elliott’s goal not only gave Liverpool a valuable first-leg advantage but also ended two of PSG’s impressive streaks. The French champions had been unbeaten in their previous 22 matches across all competitions and had scored in each of their last 20 games.
Alisson’s heroics played a major role in securing the clean sheet, and his performance will go down as one of the best individual displays by a goalkeeper in this season’s Champions League.
What’s Next for Both Teams?
With the second leg set to take place at Anfield, Liverpool will have the advantage but cannot afford to be complacent. PSG will be determined to overturn the deficit, knowing they must break down a resilient Liverpool defense.
For now, the Reds hold the upper hand, but the battle is far from over. The return leg promises to be another thrilling encounter as both teams fight for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals.
