GOAL rates all of the Reds on display at the Parc des Princes as Arne Slot’s side claimed a remarkable 1-0 win.
Liverpool were thoroughly outplayed at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, completely overshadowed by a dazzling Paris Saint-Germain team. Yet, the Reds will return to Anfield for the second leg of this Champions League last-16 tie with a 1-0 lead after an incredible smash-and-grab victory.
PSG were magnificent from the start, with Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Bradley Barcola taking turns to torment Liverpool’s defense, while Joao Neves, Fabian Ruiz, and Vitinha dominated the midfield. However, Alisson Becker was determined not to be beaten, making save after save, leading to the belief that Liverpool might actually snatch a win—and that’s exactly what happened.
In the 87th minute of a match that felt even more one-sided than Arsenal’s 7-1 triumph over PSV the night before, Darwin Nunez set up fellow substitute Harvey Elliott for the most unlikely of winners.
Goalkeeper & Defence
Alisson Becker (9.5/10):The game would not have ended 1-0 without Brazil’s No. 1, who made sensational saves throughout. He has rescued the Reds many times, but this performance was his most heroic and decisive—akin to Thibaut Courtois in the 2022 Champions League final.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (6/10):His passing was unusually poor, but he excelled defensively, making well-timed challenges against Kvaratskhelia and others.
Ibrahima Konate (4/10):He was incredibly lucky to stay on the field after pushing Barcola as he approached goal. While his commitment was commendable, he remains a liability.
Virgil van Dijk (5.5/10):He was absent during one PSG attack and showed uncharacteristic looseness in possession, but he still managed to hold a shaky back four together.
Andy Robertson (5/10):The Scot worked hard to regain possession but struggled with passing and could not stop Dembele from racing past him repeatedly.
Midfield
Ryan Gravenberch (3/10):This was his worst performance of the season. His distribution was dreadful, and he was often found lacking defensively. He should have been substituted much earlier.
Alexis Mac Allister (5/10):Full of energy but left behind by Dembele early on, setting a poor tone for the match. He only started to influence the game late in the second half.
Dominik Szoboszlai (5.5/10):Consistently active and led a few counter-attacks, but he failed to help Liverpool establish control in midfield.
Attack
Mohamed Salah (3/10):A painfully ineffective outing for the Premier League star. Salah struggled against the impressive Nuno Mendes and lost possession whenever he found space. He was fortunate to last 86 minutes.
Diogo Jota (4.5/10):He showed effort but struggled to hold the ball up and relieve pressure on the defense. His lack of match fitness was evident, leading to his substitution after an hour.
Luis Diaz (3/10):He appeared lively initially but deteriorated as the match progressed, often running into dead ends and failing to provide an outlet.
Subs & Manager
Curtis Jones (6/10):Brought much-needed intensity and tenacity to the midfield upon his arrival.
Darwin Nunez (7/10):He didn’t score, but his assist was invaluable, as he outmuscled Marquinhos and delivered a great ball to Elliott. This contribution should boost his confidence.
Harvey Elliott (7.5/10):Liverpool’s super-sub made an immediate impact, scoring just 46 seconds after replacing the struggling Salah.
Wataru Endo (7/10):His energy was crucial when he replaced the ineffective Gravenberch, showcasing his value as a substitute.
Arne Slot (7/10):Difficult to fault him for the team’s first-half struggles, as he fielded the expected starting lineup. Although he waited to make changes, Endo, Darwin, and Elliott all made significant impacts when introduced.
