The Reds Give Les Parisians The Blues in Anfield Thriller
Liverpool were slight favourites going into this match, and on last nights performance there was no catch. Bobby Firmino got the winner, as the chances of victory looked thinner and thinner. Another great European night at Anfield.
Anfield served up yet another European night to savour yesterday as Liverpool secured a huge victory against the money-laden might of Paris Saint-Germain.
A packed Anfield came expecting excitement, great football and of course, three Champions League points. Jürgen Klopp’s men didn’t disappoint in a game that went down to the wire.
Roberto Firmino showed his eyesight had not suffered after that awful looking injury he suffered on Saturday against Spurs. The Brazilian firing in a pinpoint finish passed the outstretched arms of Alphonse Areola in the PSG goal.
The visitors started brightly before Liverpool took the game to them in brave and spectacular fashion. Forcing four or five corners within a roaring 20 minute period.
The breakthrough came when Daniel Sturridge opened the scoring on the half hour mark. Nodding in an unspectacular header from a spectacular cross from Andy Robertson on the Liverpool left.
Six minutes later, Liverpool fans were in raptures when James Milner’s text book penalty made it 2-0. They say it’s not over until the fat lady sings and she was clearly just warming up.
With half time approaching, PSG woke from their slumber and began to exert some pressure on their hosts. On 40 minutes their breakthrough came when Thomas Meunier thrashed a volley past Alisson Becker. Game on.
The second half began with Liverpool asserting their authority. Mohamed Salah had an effort ruled out as Daniel Sturridge fouled Areola, sliding his preferred left boot into the PSG ‘keeper’s crown Jewels… OUCH!
Young Prodigy Kylian Mbappe put the Reds on alert when he put the ball into the Liverpool goal after a mistake by Salah gifted his opponents the ball. He was swiftly removed from play by Klopp to be replaced by Xherdan Shaqiri. Much to his disappointment.
With injury time ticking away, Firmino sent the Anfield faithful into dreamland with a solo goal, twisting and turning before striking a low hard effort across the goal and into the far corner. PSG on the canvas, Liverpool, arms aloft. Victorious. The Brazilian holding his still slightly swollen left eye in celebration and reference to his injury suffered in the previous game.
PSG manager Thomas Tuchel must have had a strange feeling of de ja vu having lost to Liverpool whilst manager of Borussia Dortmund two years ago in the Europa quarter-final. This time around, he has a much stronger team but then, he was also up against a much stronger Liverpool.
The Reds and PSG now sit at opposite ends of Champions League group C. Liverpool are of course top. The rest you can work out for yourselves.
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