Harvey Elliott's late strike shocks PSG as Liverpool snatch victory

The Reds rode their luck against a dominant PSG side, with substitute Harvey Elliott's 87th-minute goal proving the difference in a match where goalkeeper Alisson Becker shone brightest.

Slot didn't hold back in his assessment, praising Elliott while acknowledging PSG's superiority. "If we'd drawn here, we'd still have been the lucky ones, that's obvious to everyone," he said post-match. "They were much better, especially in the first half. It was almost a miracle it was 0-0 at the break."

PSG peppered Liverpool with 28 shots, including a disallowed goal from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ruled out for a tight offside call in the 20th minute, but Alisson's heroics kept the Reds in the fight.

The turning point came late when Elliott, on for a quiet Mohamed Salah, latched onto Darwin Nunez's assist to score with his first touch. "It's a big moment for him," Slot said of the 21-year-old, who has now netted in three consecutive Champions League games despite limited minutes. "He gets frustrated with his playing time, but he keeps going, I have to give him huge credit. Darwin, too, after a tough couple of games, was a threat from the moment he came on."

PSG boss Luis Enrique was left rueing a result he called "unfair." "We were far superior in how we played and the chances we created," he said. "Against one of Europe's best teams, we put in a complete performance, but football can be cruel. Their goalkeeper was their standout player, that tells you everything."

Despite the defeat, which ended PSG's 10-game winning streak across all competitions, Enrique remained defiant. "We've got nothing to lose at Anfield. I've no doubt we can turn this around," he added.

Liverpool had barely threatened before Elliott's strike, with PSG's relentless pressure, highlighted by Alisson's saves against Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, and Desire Doue, making the visitors' victory all the more improbable. "We weren't off our game; it was PSG's quality," Slot explained. "Luis Enrique has built an incredible side. Getting a result here was a massive challenge, and we know the return leg will be tough."

The win also snapped Liverpool's five-game winless run in France, giving them a slender lead to defend at Anfield. Slot's men owe much to Alisson, whose string of stunning stops kept PSG at bay, and Elliott, whose knack for seizing rare moments has lit up their European campaign.

A recent post from Liverpool's official X account hailed Elliott's impact, stating: "Harvey Elliott steps up again, huge goal from the young star!" Meanwhile, PSG's X feed quoted Enrique vowing a response: "We'll fight to the end in the second leg, this tie is far from over."

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