Liverpool pulled off a stunning 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League last-16 first-leg clash, despite being under pressure for almost the entire match. At the Parc des Princes, PSG dictated play for 87 minutes, but Harvey Elliott made an instant impact just 46 seconds after being introduced as a substitute, delivering the decisive goal against the run of play.
The home side dominated from the outset, firing a total of 27 shots, while Liverpool managed only two. However, the Reds had Alisson Becker to thank for keeping them in the game, as the Brazilian shot-stopper produced a world-class performance. His nine saves – the highest ever by a Liverpool goalkeeper in a Champions League match since records began in 2003-04 – were instrumental in frustrating the French champions.
Reflecting on his performance, Alisson told TNT Sports, “It was probably the best game of my career. The manager prepared us for a difficult night, and we knew we had to suffer.” Elliott also praised his teammate, calling him “the best in the world” and crediting him for keeping Liverpool competitive in crucial moments.
PSG’s dominance without reward
Paris Saint-Germain will be left questioning how they failed to secure a victory after completely outplaying their English opponents. The disbelief in the stadium was evident when Elliott found the net, as few could comprehend how Liverpool had taken the lead given the flow of the game.
The statistics reinforced PSG’s superiority:
Liverpool’s winning goal came from their first effort on target.
PSG recorded 27 shots – only once before had a team taken more in a Champions League knockout match without scoring (PSG against Dortmund in 2024, with 30 attempts).
Liverpool secured the victory despite registering 25 fewer attempts than PSG, equaling the largest negative shot differential by a winning team in the competition’s knockout history (matching PSG’s loss to Bayern Munich in 2021).
This was the first time in five instances where Liverpool faced over 20 shots in a Champions League knockout game and did not concede.
Alisson surpassed his previous best of eight saves in a Champions League match, set during the 2019 final against Tottenham.
Despite their dominance, PSG were wasteful, with 17 of their 27 attempts failing to hit the target. Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha noted that while PSG’s attacking fluidity was impressive, their finishing let them down.
Alisson’s brilliance and Liverpool’s luck
Alisson has produced numerous remarkable displays since joining Liverpool in 2018, but this performance stands among his finest. PSG, riding a 22-match unbeaten streak, had been in excellent form, and from the opening whistle, Liverpool struggled to cope with their relentless pressure.
The visitors had fortune on their side as well. A well-taken first-half goal by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was ruled out for offside following a VAR check, and Ibrahima Konate avoided punishment for what appeared to be a last-man foul on Bradley Barcola.
Nonetheless, Alisson’s heroics ensured Liverpool survived PSG’s relentless attacks. The goalkeeper made crucial stops to deny Ousmane Dembele, Kvaratskhelia, and substitute Desire Doue. Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock remarked on BBC Radio 5 Live, “Liverpool escaped thanks to Alisson. This is why you invest in top-class players. He makes the difference in the biggest moments.”
Liverpool manager Arne Slot echoed this sentiment, declaring, “I’ve never worked with a goalkeeper of this level before. He’s the best in the world.”
With Georgia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili set to arrive in the summer and Caoimhin Kelleher providing solid backup, competition in Liverpool’s goalkeeping department will increase. But on nights like these, Alisson’s importance to the team remains undeniable.
As the tie heads to Anfield, Liverpool will rely on their home crowd to help them complete the job. Slot acknowledged PSG’s quality, saying, “They’ve already faced top teams like Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich, and Arsenal, yet their stats in the Champions League are still the best. We knew we had to defend as we did tonight. Now, we need Anfield to push us through.”
