• Liverpool managed late 1-0 victory over PSG thanks to Harvey Elliott's strike
  • PSG dominant throughout but Alisson heroics ensured clean sheet for Reds
  • Important win gives Liverpool advantage ahead of next week's second leg

Liverpool were lucky winners against Paris Saint-Germain during the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie, with Harvey Elliott's late strike snatching a vital victory.

The Premier League leaders were incredibly lucky to enter half-time level after surrendering an array of glorious opportunities to their hosts, with Ibrahima Konate also fortunate to avoid being sent off after barging Bradley Barcola in the back as last man.

PSG continued to pepper the Liverpool goal throughout the second half but were left stunned when Elliott provided the winner in the 87th minute.

How the game unfolded

Debate has raged over which of these two European juggernauts were considered favourites for their last 16 scrap but it was the hosts who made the sharper start during the early exchanges here. Ousmane Dembele's breathtaking dart down the right-hand side was miscued by Joao Neves as Liverpool were dealt their first warning sign.

PSG continued to suffocate their visitors as the first half wore on, with VAR coming to Liverpool's rescue in the 20th minute. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's exquisite finish was chalked off for an incredibly marginal offside call, the Georgian's left heel straying beyond the Reds' defence.

Liverpool had the officials to thank once more just five minutes later as Konate pushed Barcola to the ground as the 22-year-old raced through on goal. A lengthy VAR check ensued but the decision of no penalty or red card was upheld - much to the relief of the under-fire visitors.

The Reds simply couldn't handle the ingenuity and speed of PSG's forward triumvirate, the French side left cursing their profligacy as the visitors inexplicably held on to their clean sheet. Dembele was denied by Alisson following some strangely uncoordinated defending from Virgil van Dijk, with two subsequent efforts somehow avoiding the net of Liverpool's charmed goal.

The visitors showed few signs of shifting the narrative after the restart and instantly found themselves under unrelenting pressure. They would have fallen behind if not for the cat-like reflexes of Alisson, who tipped Kvaratskhelia's thunderous free kick round the outside of the post several minutes into the second half.

For all PSG's territorial dominance, Liverpool were offered plenty of encouragement on the counter-attack. The Reds frequently broke forward with impressive numbers but lacked any cutting edge on turnovers, wayward in their distribution and unable to test Gianluigi Donnarumma.

However, Liverpool eventually broke through against the run of play. Having seen Alisson produce another stunning stop at the other end, the Reds finally made the most of one of their forays forward as two substitutes combined. Darwin Nunez teed up Elliott, who proceeded to fire into the far corner to secure a smash-and-grab win to take back to Anfield for next week's second leg.