Harvey Elliott came off the bench to score with his first touch, handing Liverpool a dramatic 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League last-16 first-leg clash on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old fired home in the 87th minute after Darwin Núñez’s clever assist, giving the Premier League leaders a crucial edge ahead of next week’s return leg at Anfield.
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It was a classic smash-and-grab victory for Arne Slot’s side, who spent most of the game under relentless pressure from PSG.
Liverpool Soak Up Pressure Before Elliott’s Heroics
For large parts of the night, PSG looked like the stronger team, dominating possession and creating chance after chance.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia thought he had put the hosts ahead in the first half, only for VAR to rule his goal out for a marginal offside.
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Meanwhile, Alisson Becker delivered a world-class performance in goal, making a string of stunning saves to keep Liverpool in the game.
The Brazilian shot-stopper denied Ousmane Dembélé, Joao Neves, and Desire Doue, frustrating Luis Enrique’s side as they racked up 28 shots compared to Liverpool’s two.
Despite PSG’s relentless attacks, Liverpool hung on. Mohamed Salah, usually the Reds’ main man, was kept quiet, and it seemed like the visitors would be heading home with just a goalless draw until Elliott struck late.
Elliott’s Instant Impact Stuns PSG
With just three minutes left, Alisson launched a long ball forward, and Núñez won the aerial battle, nodding it into Elliott’s path.
The young midfielder wasted no time, unleashing a precise shot into the far corner past Gianluigi Donnarumma to silence the Parc des Princes.
PSG had no time to respond, and Liverpool walked away with a massive advantage ahead of the second leg at Anfield.
A Tough Night for PSG, But It’s Not Over Yet
The result was a bitter blow for the French giants, who had been on a 10-game winning streak and had looked unstoppable in their last few Champions League outings.
However, their struggles to finish chances were reminiscent of their early-season issues, when they failed to convert dominance into victories against top European sides.
With a quarter-final spot on the line, PSG will now need a huge performance in England to turn things around.
But if Wednesday’s game proved anything, it’s that Liverpool know how to win even when the odds are stacked against them.
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