You might not ever figure out how Liverpool defeated PSG at the Parc des Princes, though you watched the match.
Despite being surrendering 27 shots and being dominated in all aspects by the French powerhouse, it’s hard to believe that the Merseyside team could even hope for a draw.
However, Harvey Elliott, one of our proudest academy products, scored from his first touch at a crucial moment, marking Liverpool’s second attempt and securing a 1-0 victory before returning home.
“I think if we had a draw over here we would have already been lucky, that’s clear for everyone,” Manager Arne Slot said in the postmatch conference.
It’s beautiful to see Liverpool find yet another new way to win.
Alisson’s Heroics Deny PSG’s Dominance
After years of struggling in elimination rounds, the redesigned PSG displayed its ambition to advance. Aware of Liverpool's advantages in ball control and fast-break tactics, head coach Luis Enrique approached the Premier League leaders with an unprecedented seriousness to ensure his team maintained better control.
This strategy aimed to dominate possession, preventing Liverpool from dictating the pace and managing time in their build-up play.
Meanwhile, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was keen to make an impact on his home turf, yet his powerful shots were thwarted repeatedly by the ever-alert Alisson.
In the 30th minute, as PSG attempted to create a mess inside Liverpool’s penalty area, Dembele surged in from the left and unleashed a shot.
However, it was blocked by Alisson’s legs as he expertly dropped to the ground. Despite the ball still being in PSG's possession, Alisson’s swift reflexes and substantial reach effectively neutralized their subsequent attempts.
“The manager was telling us how hard it would be to play against PSG, how good they are with the ball and we have to be ready to suffer. When you see the clips from the opponent, you know what is coming, so much quality in their side,” Alisson said.
The inspiring win also features Alisson’s astonishment on the goal line. With his 22nd clean sheet in the Champions League, the Brazilian posted up numerous saves when Liverpool struggled to find its form.
Elliott’s Gamer-winner reflects on the Reds' spirit
“It's full credit to the team, to be honest, ” Elliott said to TNT Sports post-match. “You could see they became a little bit tired towards the end, speaking about PSG, and that was due to the team's work-rate.”
The 21-year-old's words already explained the reasoning behind his game-winning goal. As PSG became weary later in the match, which was acutely aware of Liverpool’s fast breaks in the first half.
Alisson seized the moment, launching a precise long pass forward to Darwin Nunez. Bearing with the pressure of chance-missing narrative, the Uruguayan delivered the ball clinically to the wide-open Elliott on the right, who was sprinting toward the chance. As Elliott said, it was a team effort.
Although Elliott proved his value under former manager Jurgen Klopp, he has played only 76 minutes in the league this season, contributing just one assist.
His impactful appearance off the bench on Wednesday showcased his significance when it counts—especially as Mo Salah kept silent on the right wing and others struggled to create chances.
In the competitive race for a starting position against Dominik Szoboszlai, Elliott may find a way to overcome his dry spell in the Champions League.
“I can understand that he is sometimes frustrated by the playing time he gets because he is a good player,” Slot said after the match. “I have to give him big compliments for that and also my staff because they keep working with him and every time come up with great exercises so he stays fit.”
Lessons To Take: Always Stay Alert
The Reds' victory shows the statistics didn’t matter, though they were overwhelmed by the opponent in shooting and possession.
Despite PSG’s statistical dominance, Liverpool’s resilience under pressure left their opponent embarrassed.
Liverpool won this game 🤯 pic.twitter.com/NYPF4fkt2e
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 5, 2025
However, the lessons from the match highlight that Liverpool shouldn’t be arrogant despite leading the best league of the world.
While the win had some fortune involved, it also shows why Liverpool must stay alert—letting their guard down could have changed everything.
As The Athletic's coverage pointed out that Liverpool had the worst first-half play of the season, stating that the Reds were “unable to match the intensity and aggression of a PSG,”.
Without Alisson’s exceptional performance and Elliott’s late goal, Liverpool might have suffered a crushing defeat.
As the second leg approaches at Anfield, the Reds need to regain their usual form rather than being unsettled once more.
“If you have seen the game it is a very good result for us., But we also felt the quality of Paris Saint-Germain and I knew it before,” In response to Enrique’s pre-match compliment, Slot praised the French side as the best team of the league through its outstanding stats.
The frustrating process and Slot’s message are the sign of warning. After celebrating the triumph, Liverpool should look ahead with a modified mindset.