Last gasp winner for Liverpool against PSG in Champions League 1st leg

 

Liverpool shocked PSG with an 87th minute winner in Paris in 1st leg of Round of 16 UEFA Champions League tie

PSG went into this match on a 10-game winning run, which included two 7-0 victories. Liverpool however were also full of confidence sitting top of the English Premiership as well as finishing top of the UEFA Champions League qualifying table, ahead of Barcelona by two points with seven wins and one loss.

Dembele started the game like he meant business going straight at Robertson and Mac Allister as if they were not there. It was relentless and Liverpool were finding it impossible to get into any rhythm in the game. No time to think and no time to put passes together.

Just before the 20th minute mark PSG thought they had the breakthrough. Khvicha Kavaratskella got on the ball near the edge of the Liverpool box and placed it into the corner of the net. VAR, however, ruled out the Georgian’s effort for a very tight offside call.

PSG just kept the pace up and thanks to some great goalkeeping from Allison and some terrible finishing it stayed at 0-0 at halftime.

The second half started just like the first half ended. PSG passing quickly, looking sharper and cleaner on the ball. When the ball did break to Liverpool they failed to put a string of passes together and their attacks broke down all to quickly.

The chances were still falling left, right and centre to PSG but somehow Liverpool got themselves in front in the 87th minute. Nunez won a challenge in the air and passed it to Harvey Elliott, who had just come on as a sub a minute earlier for Salah. Elliott side footed it into the bottom corner of the PSG net with his first touch of the match. Liverpool’s players celebrated wildly together in disbelief that they were 1-0 up.

The Reds hung on for a famous victory in Paris. PSG had 27 shots on the night with 71% possession but still failed to take anything from the game. The PSG players looked on in disbelief at the final whistle. They had played great on the night but they just couldn’t get past the Brazilian keeper Allison, who was Liverpool’s man of the match with nine saves, the most from any Liverpool goalkeeper in one game since records began.

Liverpool will need to defend well in the return fixture on Tuesday if they are to protect their slender lead and make it through to the quarter finals of the UEFA Champions League.

 

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