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FRIDAY | MAR 7, 2025

Malaysian Paper

Smash & grab Liverpool lucky to beat PSG and have best keeper in the world: Slot

L IVERPOOL head coach Arne Slot admits his side were lucky in their late 1-0 victory over Paris St Germain in the French capital having been dominated for almost all of their Champions League last-16 first leg. And he credited man-of-the-match Alisson Becker – “the best goalkeeper in the world” – for keeping them in contention long enough for substitute Harvey Elliott to score in the 87th minute with their only shot on target. The Liverpool boss said: “We’re the lucky ones, that’s clear for everyone. I think they were the much better team today, especially in the first half (when they had) three or four big, big chances. “In the second half, they were still the better team, still had a lot of shots on target but they were mainly from outside the box. “That’s why Alisson still had to make a lot of big saves. I have had some very good players as a manager but never the best goalkeeper in the world until now. “He showed that he is the best in the world today. To go away with a win here was probably a bit more than we deserved.” Alisson made nine saves from 27 shots against a side who had not been beaten since November and had scored 40 goals in winning their last 10 matches in a row. The Brazil international told TNT Sports it was “probably the performance of my life” as he broke Pepe Reina’s club record with his 22nd Champions League clean sheet. “The manager was telling us how hard it would be to play against PSG, how good they are with the ball and that we would have to be ready to suffer…We knew what was coming,” Alisson said. His nine saves were also the most on record (since 2003) by a Liverpool goalkeeper in a Champions League match. Liverpool were fortunate VAR ruled out Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s first half goal for offside and also decided Ibrahima Konate’s shoulder barge on Bradley Barcola did not warrant a red card. “We were lucky with the first half that the goal was fractionally offside,” added Slot. “I think if the referee would have blown his whistle (for the Konate offence) VAR

Paris Saint-Germain’s Joao Neves (right) looks on as Liverpool’s Alisson gathers the ball during their Champions League Round of 16 first leg match. – AFPPIC

replacing Mohamed Salah late in the game. “A big moment for him. I can understand that he’s sometimes frustrated about the playing time he gets, because he’s a good player,” Slot said of Elliott. “He has to do it with limited playing time but he just keeps on going. I have to give him big compliments for that. “But it wasn’t only Harvey, it was also the one that assisted, Darwin, who came from a difficult two games but was absolutely there again tonight.” PSG head coach Luis Enrique was not too disappointed by the result, which he believes they can recover in the second leg at Anfield next week. “I don’t think it’s too difficult to analyse tonight’s game. We were far superior to Liverpool. “We created more chances and produced a complete performance against one of Europe’s top sides. Football can be unfair at times. “Without a doubt [they can go through]. We’ve only played the first leg. We’re a side with nothing to lose. If we can replicate tonight’s performance, we can qualify.” PSG forwards Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele, especially in the first half, were electric – and managed 13 shots, six on target, between them. “We deserved more,” said Enrique. “Their best player was their goalkeeper – he was magnificent today. Today wasn’t a game based on the stats or the details. “We were far superior. We didn’t allow Liverpool to play. They were better than us for the first five minutes but, apart from that, it was us on top.” – The Independent/Agencies

would not have overturned it and it was also clear for me that he should not have overturned it because it wasn’t clearly wrong. It’s a big decision, that’s true.” Slot also enjoyed great fortune with his substitutions, with one – Darwin Nunez – teeing up Elliott to score with his first touch after

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