Liverpool pulled off one of the biggest robberies in Europe last night, beating PSG 1-0 in a dramatic first-leg clash at the Parc des Princes.
A late goal from Harvey Elliott secured the crucial away victory, but it was the Liverpool goalkeeper’s heroics between the sticks that ensured the Reds took a slender advantage back to Anfield.
Despite Liverpool’s win, the match was anything but comfortable for the Reds. Luis Enrique’s PSG dominated proceedings, recording a staggering 27 shots, 10 of which were on target.
However, they were met by an impenetrable force in Alisson Becker, who delivered what many are calling one of the best goalkeeping performances in Champions League history.
The Brazilian shot-stopper made nine crucial saves, including a sensational double stop to deny Ousmane Dembele in the first half and an acrobatic effort to tip Desire Doue’s curling effort away in the dying minutes.
And ultimately so, his heroics resulted in a dramatic smash-and-grab for Arne Slot’s side, courtesy of Elliott’s composed finish past Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The 21-year-old came off the bench to replace Mo Salah in the 86th minute and made an instant impact, scoring the goal just a minute later.
And while one would have expected Elliott to be inside the Liverpool dressing room celebrating the big win, Slot had other plans.
Arne Slot had Harvey Elliott out warm down instead of celebrating
Instead of soaking in the moment in the dressing room, Elliott was sent straight back onto the pitch for a warm-down session with the substitutes.
BBC Sport’s live match blog reported the moment: “Goal hero Harvey Elliott should be in the dressing room celebrating with the rest of his team-mates.
“Instead, Arne Slot has sent him back out on the pitch to warm down with the other Liverpool substitutes. Liverpool’s travelling fans, who have been held back, are celebrating in the stands.”
This shows the high standard the Dutch manager has set at the club since taking over the reigns from Jurgen Klopp in the summer and why the Reds are doing so well this season.
Elliott continues to take his chances despite limited playing time
Elliott has struggled with playing time under Slot. The youngster was unfortunate to break his foot early on in the season, missing 14 games for the Reds.
Since returning, most of his appearances have come from the bench as a substitute.
| Season | Premier League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-2020 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2020-2021 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2021-2022 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 |
| 2022-2023 | 32 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 46 |
| 2023-2024 | 34 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 53 |
| 2024-2025 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
Despite his limited opportunities, he has proven to be a valuable player for Slot in cup competitions. He scored against Southampton to help the Reds to a 2-1 win in the League Cup quarter-finals.
He has also scored three in a row in the Champions League, scoring against Lille and PSV in the League stages prior to the winner against PSG.
The young Lion faces strong competition for a spot in the starting XI with the likes of Mo Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai ahead of him, but he remains an integral part of Slot’s side who have been one of the best teams in Europe this campaign.
The post What Arne Slot made Harvey Elliott do right after PSG clash shows why Liverpool are thriving appeared first on HITC.
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