Match reportLate Harvey Elliott winner sees Liverpool beat PSG away in UCL last-16 first leg

The No.19 came off the bench and scored with his first touch by calmly rolling a first-time finish from Darwin Nunez’s lay-off past Gianluigi Donnarumma in the 87th minute of Wednesday night’s game in the French capital.

The Reds came under intense pressure for prolonged periods but stayed level for the majority of the contest thanks to an outstanding performance from Alisson Becker, which was the highlight of a battling collective display.

Alisson made several fine saves and, on the only occasion he was beaten, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia saw his first-half goal disallowed for offside following a VAR review.

And Elliott would then have the final say as, just 46 seconds after he’d replaced Mohamed Salah, he netted to put Arne Slot’s side in the driving seat for a place in the quarter-finals ahead of next Tuesday’s second leg at Anfield.

Team

Andy Robertson was restored to Liverpool’s starting XI in the only change from last week’s win over Newcastle United. Cody Gakpo, who sustained a knock in training ahead of the game, was not included in the matchday squad.

Liverpool: Alisson, Van Dijk, Konate, Diaz (Jones, 67), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah (Elliott, 86), Jota (Nunez, 67), Robertson, Gravenberch (Endo, 78), Alexander-Arnold.

Unused subs: Jaros, Kelleher, Chiesa, Tsimikas, McConnell, Quansah, Nyoni.

First half

Amid a backdrop of vociferous home support, Liverpool began in confident fashion and Luis Diaz’s touch let him down after he’d been found in the penalty area by a clever flick by Diogo Jota.

But the visitors’ grip on the contest loosened as the half wore on, with PSG growing into the game’s dominant force.

The hosts’ first clear sight of goal arrived when Ousmane Dembele skipped away from Robertson and Alexis Mac Allister before squaring to Joao Neves, who scuffed his shot into the ground.

Kvaratskhelia’s disallowed goal – a left-footed curler that found the top corner but had been scored from an offside position – quickly followed, and the Georgian was then denied from distance by Alisson.

PSG were well on top now and the Reds somehow escaped thanks to a combination of brilliance from Alisson – who rushed out to swarm Dembele and best the forward in a one-on-one – and poor finishing on the follow-up from Bradley Barcola.

Alisson produced an even better save soon after, the Brazilian getting down with lightning speed to again thwart Kvaratskhelia, who had tried to beat him at his near post after jinking inside from the left flank.

Liverpool could, though, have snatched the lead on the stroke of half-time. Mac Allister’s corner was glanced on by Diaz and Salah was there at the back post, but the No.11 failed to make contact and the chance was gone.

Second half

The interval came at a good time for Liverpool, who were able to regroup and benefited from the enforced interruption to PSG’s momentum.

But, yet again, the Reds were indebted to Alisson, who continued to win his personal duel with Kvaratskhelia by tipping his free-kick wide.

The match was becoming more stretched, however, and that suited the away side.

A dangerous counter-attack ended as Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai overplayed instead of shooting and Liverpool then created Salah’s first real one-v-one of the evening, but Nuno Mendes read his intentions to step inside onto his left foot.

Another breakaway came to nothing as Salah’s final pass was uncharacteristically wasteful and Slot turned to his bench, with Curtis Jones and Nunez summoned in place of Diaz and Jota.

Nunez’s first involvement was a tussle with Marquinhos, who, with the help of Donnarumma, saw off the No.9’s efforts to reach a searching Trent Alexander-Arnold pass.

PSG substitute Desire Doue was next to be left frustrated by the indomitable Alisson, who clawed his attempt away.

And, as the clock ticked down, two substitutes combined to snatch victory for the Reds, as Nunez showed great composure to roll the ball into the path of Elliott, who did the rest with aplomb.