Alisson produces game of his life as Liverpool seal smash-and-grab win over PSG

Winners find a way. Good managers make inspired substitutions. Champions hang on in there. After being completely dominated for 87 almost humiliating minutes by Paris St-Germain, after owing the goalless scoreline to a superhuman effort from their goalkeeper Alisson Becker, Liverpool somehow won.

It came as Mohamed Salah – of all people – trudged off on what looked like a frustrating night for him as he carried so little threat. His replacement? Harvey Elliott. And his first touch, 47 seconds later? It was to run on to a pass from another substitute, Darwin Núñez, who had dug out the chance with his determination and side-foot Liverpool to an astonishing victory. The ultimate ‘smash and grab’.

What a game football can be. At the end Elliott, the match-winner, ran over to Alisson, the tie-saver and jumped on him, wrapping his legs around him. Who could blame him?

The Brazilian faced nine shots and saved them all but that statistic does not remotely do justice to how dominant he was. He called it the best performance of the 32-year-old’s illustrious career and no-one would argue with that as he produced one of the all-time classic goalkeeping displays. It was Alisson v PSG. It was 10 out of 10. It was perfection.

This was one for the ages. There have been so many special European nights delivered by Liverpool players, delivered by Liverpool as a team, and this was right up there with the very best.

Alisson was so good that he broke PSG. They had comprehensively outplayed Liverpool. Their young team had ran all over them, creating chance after chance. They are Europe’s form side as they came into this last-16 tie having won their last five Champions League matches to an aggregate of 23-3 – including that rampant 4-2 comeback against Manchester City. With 10 wins in a row they brimmed with confidence and threat.

And yet they could not beat Alisson. They had 27 shots but did not score. They had an XG – expected goals – of 1.82 but did not score. They had three big chances, and it felt like a lot more, and did not score. All because of Alisson, who reduced them to snatching at pot-shots when well-placed just to try and beat him. He demoralised them to that degree.

There has been so much talk of keeping big players at Liverpool, of the contracts of Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold running down, that the supreme quality of one player – Alisson – is often taken for granted. Liverpool have even signed his replacement, Giorgi Mamardashvili, but Alisson will take some dislodging if he wants to stay. He remains the world’s best goalkeeper, whatever the claims of others.

For Arne Slot this was probably Liverpool’s most insipid performance under him, in which he replaced all his misfiring forwards. But yet again his substitutions worked.

Maybe the Dutchman is a genius. He certainly has a preternatural calmness to him which seems to transmit itself throughout his squad. They stay in contention like the very best do. If Jürgen Klopp’s legacy was to turn doubters into believers then Slot’s may well be showing that the impossible job – of succeeding him – is just not that. Liverpool remain on course for a remarkable season.

But, make no mistake, they were also fortunate. Even Van Dijk was rattled and was deservedly booked for time-wasting while Liverpool’s luck was in when Ibrahima Konaté escaped a red card in the first-half despite clearly barging over Bradley Barcola. It looked like an obvious denial of a goalscoring opportunity but play continued after a lengthy VAR check.

It was not the only VAR intervention that went in Liverpool’s favour. Despite his brilliance Alisson was actually beaten, by the impressive new signing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, but the effort was ruled out after the tightest of offsides. Basically it was just the sole of Kvaratskhelia’s foot.

Liverpool could easily have been three goals and a player down by half-time.

The message from the PSG ultras in the Virage Auteuil, behind one goal, was simple. Their vast banner read: Victoire!!! And it needed no translation as their team heeded the call and tore into a lacklustre Liverpool who failed in their attempts to slow the game down.

As the chances racked up it felt inevitable that PSG, who Slot later claimed are the best side in Europe this season, despite their struggles in the Champions League group stages, would score. But how they would rue their wastefulness followed by the brilliance of Alisson.

Maybe the best chance was the first one as Ousmane Dembélé nutmegged Andrew Robertson, skipped past Alexis Mac Allister and crossed low. It fell to Joao Neves and the midfielder had to score. Instead he scuffed his shot wide.

Then Alisson took over. Dembélé , with 20 goals in his last 14 appearances, was through on goal but was superbly denied. Maybe that unsettled PSG. Still the rebound fell to Barcola who was then teed up but his shot was blocked by Dominik Szoboszlai – with the winger blasting the rebound over. Liverpool were rocking and there was little respite with Kvaratskhelia jinking his way through and drawing another fine save, low and one-handed, from Alisson.

Liverpool had been so sloppy, had made so many mistakes, and remained reliant on Alisson who tipped away Kvaratskhelia’s powerful free-kick for a corner, then denied substitute Désiré Doué with another flying save before repelling from Dembélé with an improvised scoop that was far more difficult than it looked.

By this stage there was almost a ripple of a laugh in the stadium. It was beginning to feel faintly ridiculous but not, for PSG, as much as what then happened as Liverpool broke and Elliott scored. PSG had over-committed. Alisson was frankly unbelievable but so, in truth, was the result.

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10:54 PM GMT

Slot on his subs

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10:43 PM GMT

Van Dijk speaking post-match

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10:39 PM GMT

The shot map tells the story

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10:32 PM GMT

Telegraph Sport columnist Jamie Carragher speaking on CBS

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10:28 PM GMT

Enrique on PSG suffering a gut punch

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10:24 PM GMT

Slot speaking after the game

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10:24 PM GMT

Elliott pays tribute to Alisson

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10:12 PM GMT

Set up for an Anfield classic

Well, riding your luck in Europe and still winning has worked long enough for Real Madrid so why not Liverpool? Not sure how they did it. But as the cliche goes, this tie is far from over.

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10:00 PM GMT

Alisson asked if that was his best performance of the season

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09:56 PM GMT

FT: PSG 0 Liverpool 1

Alisson is beaming from ear to ear and his team-mates owe him as many dinners out as he pleases. Liverpool were outplayed for almost the entirety of the match, but pinched the victory at the end with one of their only chances. Harvey Elliott scoring 47 seconds after replacing Mohamed Salah.

PSG’s players look stunned. They looked like a dynamic collective who could be Champions League winners, but are now very much outsiders to progress.

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09:54 PM GMT

94 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 1

Mendes’ cross deflects into the arms of Alisson and Van Dijk races over to give him a slap on the back. Liverpool have their goalkeeper and Harvey Elliott to thank if they hang on. Did anyone have Harvey Elliott as first goalscorer?

PSG win a late corner which they take short, but the cross deflects off Van Dijk and back to Alisson. Liverpool almost there.

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09:52 PM GMT

92 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 1

The minutes since the goal have possibly been Liverpool’s most comfortable of the night. The air has gone out of the balloon in the Parc des Princes. It sounds like hokum but you do wonder if they have a complex in this competition.

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09:49 PM GMT

90 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 1

Liverpool only have stoppage time to endure to secure an unlikely win and Alisson has the ball in his hands. PSG have five minutes of stoppage time to save the day.

A tale of two goalkeepers. One world class, the other not so much. Huge moment in the career of Harvey Elliott, mind.

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09:47 PM GMT

GOOOAAALL! Harvey Elliott scores with his first touch

Floodlit robbery in Paris, and this will go down as an inspired sub by Slot. It was a long ball forward from Alisson that Nunez fought for at the edge of the box. The ball dropped for the striker and he looked set to shoot, but he rolled the ball into space for Elliott to strike first time with his left instep. A Salah-like finish towards the far corner but Donnarumma got a hand to it and should have kept it out. Or at least it looked that way. Elliott was on the pitch 47 seconds.

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09:45 PM GMT

87 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Mohamed Salah’s race is run, replaced by Harvey Elliott.

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09:44 PM GMT

85 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Liverpool defending deep in their half again. Another huge right palm from Alisson! It was a teasing cross-cum-shot from Dembele that may just have been nestling in the far corner, but the Liverpool goalkeeper plunged to his right and pushed the ball away from danger.

Liverpool then looked away on the break, but Salah scuffed his pass when in a two-on-two with Nunez. Sums up Liverpool’s night as an attacking force.

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09:42 PM GMT

83 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

There has been the occasional chance for Liverpool to break into space but their choice and weight of pass have let them down time and time again. Chasing the ball for so long leaves you knackered when you do win it back, it is the old problem teams used to have against Barcelona. Who did Luis Enrique play for and manage again?

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09:39 PM GMT

80 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Alisson with another outstanding save! Doue cutting inside from the left and producing a curling shot with his left foot that looked destined for the top corner but the Liverpool goalkeeper pushed it around the post. Even L’Equipe will have to give Alisson a 10/10 on this showing.

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09:37 PM GMT

78 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Hakimi stood in an offside position, found by Doue, but he forced another smart save from Alisson with the shot.

Enrique making a double sub: Kvaratskhelia and Ruiz off, Zaire Emery and Goncalo Ramos on.

Liverpool change: Gravenberch off, replaced by Endo.

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09:35 PM GMT

75 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

It looked a little soft but Jones commits a foul in a crossing position. He was drawn in by Doue and the PSG youngster tricked him with the stepover. Doue then shoots from a tight angle from a quickly taken free-kick but Alisson was equal to it. Simple save, really.

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09:33 PM GMT

73 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

It does not take long for Nunez to make his presence felt in the game. Alexander-Arnold lofted a pass into the penalty area for Nunez to chase, with Marquinhos between him and the ball. The Liverpool striker had to make a play for it, but caught Donnarumma in the face. No foul given initially by the ref, but then he blows up. Donnarumma springs to his feet and is unhappy.

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09:30 PM GMT

71 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Van Dijk, taking the Liverpool goal kick, is booked for time wasting. Liverpool have made it to the final 20 minutes, plus stoppages, unscathed. PSG need to stay patient and keep playing; just a few signs that Dembele is losing patience with some silly shots. Doue follows him with another wild effort from outside the box.

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09:28 PM GMT

69 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Liverpool’s defence hanging by a thread as first Dembele and then Doue fired low across into the six-yard box but there is no navy shirt there for a tap-in. Alexander-Arnold’s defending has been on of the better aspects of Liverpool’s play, he does well again up against Kvaratskhelia. Neves and Vitinha continue to win the midfield battle.

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09:27 PM GMT

Nunez brings some chaos factor

The way PSG set-up with their high line, Nunez could get chances and make himself a hero here. It depends whether he is capable of staying onside, of course… and his midfield will have to deliver at least one accurate pass in the final third, which has so far been beyond them.

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09:26 PM GMT

66 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

PSG with a long spell of possession inside the Liverpool half which ends with a corner. Dembele’s strike deflected off the shin of Robertson.

Here comes a sub: Doue on for Barcola for the home team. Nunez still waiting to come on.

PSG take the corner short but Liverpool defend. Their fans will be starting to look at the clock now. A goalless draw would feel like job done.

Now time for the Liverpool changes: Diaz and Jota off, Jones and Nunez on. Not a great night for Liverpool forwards.

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09:23 PM GMT

63 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Arne Slot is readying a change: Darwin Nunez is about to come on, in the hope is running power can help get PSG’s smothering press off Liverpool. That was a much better Liverpool attack after nice work from Szoboszlai, but Salah’s cross for once was aimless and Donnarumma claims. Nunez the type of player who could come on and score the winner, an own goal or be sent off.

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09:21 PM GMT

61 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

There have been signs in the last few minutes of Liverpool starting to run forward with some dangerous breaks, but PSG then restore order with the ball. Alexander-Arnold deserves credit for his one-on-one defending against Kvaratskhelia, patiently waiting for his moment to hook the ball away for a corner.

Wicked deliver to the near post, and Szoboszlai stuck out a leg to turn behind for another. Then Hakimi slices over with an ambitious shot from range. Still no PSG breakthrough.

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09:18 PM GMT

58 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

A more promising moment for Liverpool, with Jota running out-to-in from the left and feeding a pass across the area for Salah. The Liverpool forward decided against an early shot and the move slowed down. Then Mendes split open the Liverpool midfield with a clever pass inside but Dembele’s shot was blocked after another fast PSG attack.

Liverpool respond in kind, but Mendes stays on his feet and defends excellently against Salah when isolated. The PSG left-back has been one of a number of strong performances.

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09:15 PM GMT

56 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Vitinha’s pass out to Dembele was overhit but he managed to win a corner. Yet more commanding goalkeeping from Alisson who reads a Kvaratskhelia cross teased across the six-yard line and palming away from danger. Liverpool hanging on again, they cannot get out or make it stick up front.

Kvaratskhelia tries again from 25 yards, but this time it is a more comfortable save for Alisson.

PSG are playing like peak Klopp Liverpool.

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09:13 PM GMT

54 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Jota has struggled going forward and now he has conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position, bundling into the back of Kvaratskhelia.

The Georgian takes it, producing a rasping effort across goal but once again Alisson made a telling save. Diving full stretch to his left, and tipping around the post. Liverpool limp on.

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09:11 PM GMT

52 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

PSG’s creative players and dribbles will attract plenty of praise I’m sure but Pacho and Marquinhos have been excellent in their battles from centre-back. The selection of Pacho looks a good one from Enrique. PSG continuing to control the game, but Alisson yet to be seriously tested in this half.

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09:08 PM GMT

49 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Tsimikas appears to be receiving some detailed instructions on the bench, which is one to keep an eye on. Slot could do worse than putting Tsimikas and Robertson on the left to try and stem the flow. Dembele with quick feet again beyond Mac Allister but he sliced the shot with distance over the bar.

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09:06 PM GMT

47 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

No changes from either manager at the break, but Slot will surely have had some stern words for his team or at least a few alterations. They struggled to deal with PSG’s rotations through midfield and around the penalty area.

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09:04 PM GMT

The game is back under way

PSG, straight for kick-off, deliberately kick a long diagonal out of play for a Liverpool throw-in near the corner flag.

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08:52 PM GMT

Bascombe’s half-time verdict

It was a novel idea asking Alisson to take on PSG alone in that first half, but the experiment is not working and reckon he could do with ten outfield assistants in the second half. Liverpool have been outrun. Worryingly, not sure if they look like they have the energy to last the 90 minutes without conceding.

Slot has made some valuable half-time contributions to switch the momentum of a match this season and he needs another. Would not be surprised to see Curtis Jones soon to add more midfield energy, but he is warming-up in full training gear with the rest of the subs at half-time so it does not look like a change is imminent.

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08:52 PM GMT

That tells the story

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08:50 PM GMT

HT: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

You here a lot of coaches talk about the need to ‘suffer’, and Liverpool have suffered more than any 45 minutes this season. PSG look worthy candidates to win the tournament on this showing; they have been intense, inventive and dominant in the one-on-one duels they have set up across the pitch. The positives for Liverpool are Alisson’s performance, the scoreline and the prospect of an Anfield second leg. Tough going so far.

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08:49 PM GMT

45+2 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

PSG finishing on the front foot at the end of the half, with Kvaratskhelia and Mendes whipping dangerous low crosses a cross the box but once again Liverpool hang on. Mendes wriggled out of the corner against Alexander-Arnold far too easily.

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08:47 PM GMT

45 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Could Liverpool even pull of a Parisian heist by going in with their noses in front? That was close, a near-post header from a corner and the flick so nearly dropped for Salah at the back post.

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08:44 PM GMT

42 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

The wall did its job to block the free-kick before Marquinhos was flagged offside in the Liverpool box. Pacho is then penalised for being too forceful in an aerial duel with Jota. Liverpool are close to making it to half time unscathed which would be a result and a half on balance.

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08:42 PM GMT

40 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Donnarumma with a couple of camera-friendly pieces of goalkeeping under high balls, but his throw out sets PSG on the attack again. First, Dembele spins in behind Robertson, and then Hakimi wins a free-kick around 25 yards from the Liverpool goal. Right of centre, and in a shooting position.

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08:39 PM GMT

37 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

The only thing that looks like stopping PSG at the moment is a combination of bad luck, the weight of their Champions League history and an inspired Alisson. The Liverpool makes another good save, down low to his right, after Kvaratskhelia’s shot through bodies.

Jota then wins a free-kick in the PSG half at the expense of a Marquinhos booking.

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08:36 PM GMT

34 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Liverpool actually won a corner a few minutes ago, we thought we were going to see some floodlit robbery, but it came to nothing. Slot’s team enjoyed a good opening there though, it looked like Jota was about to square for Diaz to go through on goal but Marquinhos made a telling interception before Mendes defended well up against Salah.

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08:32 PM GMT

31 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

This is quite remarkable: PSG have missed a series of high-quality chances and somehow Liverpool remain level. Their defence was cut open with Van Dijk caught out completely, with Dembele in acres of space. He had time to think and line up the shot, but Alisson did ever so well to smother. Then Barcola’s follow up was cleared off the line by Szoboszlai before the winger blazed the next shot over.

Liverpool are lucky Alisson has turned up in Paris because no-one else in his team has yet.

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08:30 PM GMT

28 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Liverpool are a fantastic side but PSG look a class above at the moment. Barcola combines with Kvaratskhelia who then stings the palms of Alisson with a shot from outside the box. Some of the home team’s football has been fantastic, tricks, flicks, clever passes but everything with a purpose. Kvaratskhelia with another nutmeg.

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08:28 PM GMT

RED CARD CHECK: Konate potentially in trouble

Barcola was in behind the Liverpool defence and Konate gave him a nudge in the back with his forearm. I do not think games such as this should be turned into attack vs defence sessions on the basis of that. It was a nudge rather than a push.

NO RED CARD: The referee waves play on and Liverpool enjoy another let-off. Although on balance, I think that was a sensible call by the referee. But some would have sent Konate off.

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08:26 PM GMT

23 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

A major let off for Liverpool but they are floundering here. If you offered the away fans in the stadium a goalless draw they would sign on the dotted line. Dembele is a player who has sometimes struggled to match the hype throughout his career, but he looks electric so far.

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08:23 PM GMT

NO GOAL: Kvaratskhelia ruled offside

That must be the tightest of offsides, but with the semi-automated offside technology in place it will surely be the correct call. Only centimetres in it.

A huge stroke of luck as the goal ruled out for offside, but the warnings are clear. The PSG ultras banner reads ‘Victoire’ and you could feel the confidence in this stadium from before kick-off. Liverpool need to wake up or we’ll be writing about the need for a famous Anfield comeback by full-time.

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08:22 PM GMT

GOOOAALLL! Kvaratskhelia curls PSG into the lead

The corner leading to this goal was won by a Dembele nutmeg, turn and deflected shot but it is the January signing who has made the breakthrough. Second phase from the corner, the Georgian received the ball in the box and curled a left-footed shot round Gravenberch around the helpless Alisson.

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08:20 PM GMT

18 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

After a decent first 10 minutes for Liverpool, they are starting to find it harder now. Dembele went on another run down the right, beating Diaz to win a corner, and snap shot drifted wide of the post. Liverpool, as many teams tend to do now, are defending narrow with Diaz and Salah inside, conceding the flanks.

After a bit of early sparring PSG are doing to Liverpool what Slot’s side often do to opponents – smothering them so they cannot escape their own half. Liverpool’s passing ‘between the lines’ needs to be sharper because there is plenty of space behind PSG’s backline. It’s the visitors’ defence currently looking more vulnerable, however.

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08:18 PM GMT

16 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

First big chance of the game has been missed by PSG after some Dembele wizardry. He left Robertson and then Mac Allister in the dust with a spin and then picked out Vitinha with a cute pull-back but the midfielder bounced his finish into the turf and over the bar.

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08:16 PM GMT

14 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

PSG starting to establish dominance of possession but Liverpool give them a helping hand again. This time it was Diaz misplacing a square pass across midfield, but Barcola was smothered by the Liverpool centre-backs after Kvaratskhelia tried to tee him up. The home team’s best moments have come from Liverpool giveaways. Alexander-Arnold then fares well in a duel with Barcola.

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08:12 PM GMT

10 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Nuno Mendes tries to send Barcola in behind Alexander-Arnold but there is too much weight on the pass.

As Slot alluded to before the match, PSG are pressing man-for-man and leaving four defenders against Diaz, Jota, Szoboszlai and Salah.

Vitinha then helps the home team settle in their longest spell of possession in the Liverpool half, but the visitors are back behind the ball in a 4-5-1 shape. Liverpool have improved so much in these phases under Slot, it has been a key difference from last season.

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08:09 PM GMT

8 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Alisson does now take the chance to slow things down, taking his time to pick the ball up in his own area to more whistles.

For the first time in the game, Liverpool make a mistake with Van Dijk misplacing a pass into midfield but a tame shot from Barcola was blocked before Vitinha dragged his attempt wide.

Van Dijk just made his first mistake in 150 games there. Got away with it.

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08:07 PM GMT

6 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Marquinhos forced into some defending on the sweep again and he plays the ball out for a throw. Then Salah and Nuno Mendes inadvertently collide, nothing in it either way. Sometimes an away team will look to keep the ball at a slow tempo in the early stages of a game like this but Liverpool are playing forward when they have the chance.

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08:05 PM GMT

4 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Liverpool giving PSG a taste of their own medicine, locking on to their opposite numbers and regaining possession in a dangerous position. The ball was poked into the penalty area but Diaz could not take the ball into his path.

Then the visitors get the chance to enjoy some more comfortable possession across their backline to a soundtrack of whistles from the home fans.

Robertson then clips a ball over the top to release Diaz after a sharp piece of movement, but Marquinhos does well to prevent a corner. Lively Liverpool start.

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08:03 PM GMT

2 minutes: PSG 0 Liverpool 0

Fabian Ruiz closes down Gravenberch near the corner flag, but the Liverpool man wins a foul. PSG are already showing their pressing intent, harrying Liverpool’s players high up.

Nuno Mendes then plays a sweeping switch out to Kvaratskhelia, but Diaz shows his defensive dilligence and helps Liverpool win a goal kick.

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08:01 PM GMT

KICK OFF!

Liverpool get the game started, playing all in red.

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07:58 PM GMT

The players are out at the Parc des Princes

The pitch looks immaculate, which was certainly not the case for PSV vs Arsenal last night. No matter how well Liverpool start I’m not sure they are going to silence the drums or dampen the pyro emanating from the PSG ultras.

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07:54 PM GMT

This is why PSG vs Liverpool has been billed as the tie of the round

Speaking to the Parisians pre-match there is a real sense that PSG are going to come flying at Liverpool with high-risk, attacking football. Not sure any team has attempted that since Atalanta knocked Liverpool out of last year’s Europa League. If that is Luis Enrique’s plan, buckle up.

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07:52 PM GMT

PSG’s fans are making a racket

There is a theory, very plausible, that since PSG have moved away from superstar signings to a younger, more hard-running team the connection between players and fans has strengthened. Averaging four goals per game over a 10-game stretch always helps. They feel more like a Parisian club again (or have I just been sportswashed?)

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07:45 PM GMT

David Beckham has just taken his seat

Quite an eclectic list of celebs in attendance this evening including David Beckham, Kit Harrington and former Pop Idol Will Young. Harrington is a Manchester United fan, and I can’t remember Mr Young ever rocking up at Anfield. My guess is they are here for Paris Fashion Week (especially Beckham) and have 90 minutes to spare.

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07:42 PM GMT

A key battle

PSG left-back Nuno Mendes loves to fly forward and Liverpool tend to allow Mohamed Salah to ‘cheat’ high ready to strike on the counter-attack. Will one of them be forced to alter their usual approach? Enrique’s only change is to bring in left-footed central defender Pacho, and I wonder if he will be tasked with moving wider to mark Salah when Mendes is pushed on.

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07:29 PM GMT

Seems strange to have a predominantly green ball

But Pep Guardiola assured us of its quality at the weekend.

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07:19 PM GMT

One to keep an eye on

A number of players are a yellow card away from missing the second leg. They are Harvey Elliott, Ibrahima Konate, Alexis Mac Allister and Andy Robertson for Liverpool and for PSG Fabian Ruiz. It is no slight on Harvey Elliott, but Liverpool fans will be sweating on Konate and Mac Allister in particular.

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07:11 PM GMT

Slot speaking, always candid on tactical aspects of the game

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07:04 PM GMT

PSG team and subs: Pacho replaces Beraldo at left centre-back

PSG starting XI: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Nuno Mendes; Neves, Vitinha, Fabian; Kvaratskhelia, Dembele, Barcola

Subs: Safonov, Tenas, Kimpembe, Goncalo Ramos, Doue, Lee, Hernandez, Mayulu, Zaire Emery, Lucas Beraldo, Mbaye

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07:02 PM GMT

Slot feeling Churchillian or was Michael Oliver in the front row?

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07:00 PM GMT

L’Equipe’s cheeky front cover

The editor of L’Equipe must have had their tongue in cheek when depicting the imminent renewal of sporting hostilities between PSG and Liverpool on today’s front page.

Alongside modern greats such as Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk stand the less fondly remembered Neil Ruddock, David James and Stig Inge Bjornebye.

Punchy or downright taking the mick? In fairness, it is probably a reference to the last time these clubs met in a UEFA knockout round – 1997 European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final – when the less celebrated trio were regulars.

Paris won that 3-2 courtesy of a dominant first leg victory. For manager Roy Evans it was effectively the beginning of the end as he would be joined and then replaced by Liverpool’s French revolutionary leader Gerard Houllier within 18 months.

Whatever the result in Parc des Princes tonight, there is no fear of the outcome precipitating the same fundamental Anfield changes that followed that tie 28 years ago.

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06:53 PM GMT

Cody Gakpo not full recovered from his injury

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Jota, Diaz

So Liverpool’s front three is Salah, Jota and Diaz. In truth, it operates more like a front four these days, with Dominik Szoboszlai pushed on to combine with Salah, giving Slot’s team something like a 4-2-4 shape. That will be interesting against a PSG team committed to playing with three stick-on central midfielders.

There was a period earlier in the season when Curtis Jones looked to have the edge ove Szoboszlai, but the Hungarian has been a stand-out performer in recent weeks and has nailed down that spot.

With Gomez and Bradley injured there was no dilemma regarding putting Alexander-Arnold up against Barcola or Kvaratskhelia, Slot simply had to play his one remaining right-back.

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06:49 PM GMT

Liverpool team and subs: Gakpo not fit enough to make squad

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06:30 PM GMT

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06:30 PM GMT

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06:29 PM GMT

Liverpool might have league sewn up but PSG tie looks a 50:50

Cup competitions can throw up fixtures that feel more befitting of a later round in the tournament and PSG vs Liverpool falls into that category.

It might be a Champions League last-16 tie, but this tussle has the feel of a quarter or semi-final as two of Europe’s form teams meet. Should either club go on to lift the famous big-eared trophy in Munich, they will look back at this round as perhaps the biggest hurdle they had to overcome.

Liverpool might have a stranglehold on the Premier League with a 13-point lead at the top, but this tie looks something closer to a 50:50.

PSG have come a long way since their meek defeat at Arsenal in October in the league phase, with the penny dropping for Luis Enrique’s team since December. The French club have won their last 10 games in all competitions, scoring 40 goals in the process. They are unbeaten since a defeat to Bayern Munich in November.

As Arne Slot noted in his pre-match press conference, PSG have attacking threats all over the pitch, with two extremely offensive full-backs in Achraf Hakimi and Nuno Mendes. Some say artisans are in short supply in the modern game, but Joao Neves and Vintinha are one of the most technical engine rooms in the competition. That area of the pitch could be strengthened further by the return of Warren Zaire-Emery, who has made substitute appearances in the last two games in his comeback from an ankle problem.

Ousmane Dembele, who suffered a serious knee injury early in his career and has been blighted by inconsistency, is in the form of his life in a more central role. There is electric pace on the left with Bradley Barcola and Georgian schemer Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the other flank. More importantly, PSG are playing as a collective unlike previous iterations.

If that makes it sound like Liverpool have Everest to climb, it is worth slamming the breaks and remembering they have lost just one Premier League game this season and topped the league phase of the Champions League while staying unbeaten. For all PSG’s talent, Liverpool boast possibly the world’s best player in Mohamed Salah. The question mark regarding selection is whether Cody Gakpo is fit to join him in the forward line.

An Anfield second leg is an advantage, but Liverpool are in for a stringent test tonight. They conceded two at Everton, Aston Villa, Arsenal, Southampton and three at Newcastle and Spurs in the league, so they have been a touch vulnerable away from home.

Full team news on the way shortly.