Liverpool Snags Last-Minute Victory Against PSG in Thriller

PARIS, France – Liverpool stole a narrow 1-0 victory against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 matchup Wednesday, March 5, 2025, at Parc des Princes. The Reds secured the win with a last-minute goal from Harvey Elliott, just 47 seconds after he was substituted on.

Despite being heavily outplayed and managing only one shot on target throughout the match, Liverpool’s defense held strong thanks to a remarkable performance by goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who made multiple crucial saves. Elliott’s dramatic strike in the 87th minute came after Darwin Núñez orchestrated a brilliant play, allowing Elliott to slot the ball past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

“To go away with a win from here was probably a bit more than we deserved,” acknowledged Liverpool manager Arne Slot after the match. “But you take what you can get in knockout football.”

PSG, under the guidance of manager Luis Enrique, dominated possession and registered a staggering 28 shots compared to Liverpool’s two, showcasing their offensive prowess throughout the game.

“We played well enough to deserve at least a draw,” Enrique said. “We created plenty of chances but simply couldn’t convert. We’ll definitely come back stronger for the second leg.”

PSG’s first notable chance came in the 16th minute when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia‘s volley from a cutback went over the bar. Just four minutes later, PSG thought they had taken the lead, but a curled effort from the same player was disallowed by VAR due to an offside ruling.

The first half saw Liverpool in a defensive posture, with Alisson making essential saves against attempts by Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola. Alisson’s efforts kept the match scoreless at halftime, setting a tense stage for the second half.

“Without him, I don’t know where we’d be,” praised Elliott in response to Alisson’s crucial saves, which included a deft tip over the bar late in the match.

In the 87th minute, Slot made a significant tactical change by bringing on Elliott for Mohamed Salah. The move paid off swiftly when Núñez’s strong presence allowed Elliott to find space, sealing a victory that felt almost like a gift to the visitors.

“You could see they [PSG] had become a bit tired at the end,” added Elliott. “It was down to me to put the opportunity away, and fortunately, it went in.”

Alisson was named man of the match for his performances, emphasizing that his team needed to endure during challenging moments. “We had to be ready to suffer,” he said. “This was a tough night for us with a happy end.”

Looking forward, the two teams will face off again on March 11 at Anfield, where PSG will aim to overturn the deficit and advance in the tournament. Both teams currently lead their domestic leagues, with Liverpool at the top of the Premier League and PSG sitting comfortably ahead in Ligue 1.