Liverpool

Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Top-of-the-table Liverpool may be playing bottom club Southampton at Anfield on Saturday but Reds manager Arne Slot is not taking the game lightly.

The Dutchman has described the match as the first of three finals in a week in which his side host Paris St-Germain in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie on Tuesday and then face Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley on Sunday, 16 March.

"A week to look forward to for every Liverpool fan," said Slot, who will serve the second game of a two-match touchline ban against Southampton.

"I know the final is there and everybody is already talking to me about how the atmosphere will be on a Champions League night, but I truly hope that our fans will be loudest tomorrow - not in the final and not against PSG, but tomorrow."

A win over Southampton will move Premier League leaders Liverpool 16 points clear of second-placed Arsenal, whose two games in hand will be against Manchester United on Sunday and Chelsea a week later.

Slot is using the word final for Saturday's game to emphasise its importance to both his players and the fans.

"I have to convince my players that we play three finals, like I said now a few times," added Slot. "I'm hoping - and that's why every time come up with the word 'final' - that I influence our fans a bit as well.

"I'm hoping they will not come into the stadium five minutes before the kick-off. I'm hoping the whole stadium is already completely filled half an hour before kick-off."

Liverpool boss Arne Slot spoke highly of Alisson during his latest news conference.

He is pleased with the depth of the goalkeeper union, but said the Brazilian goalkeeper doesn't need strong competition to stay motivated, stating: "He is a top professional like all of the players we have here. They know what it means to wear this shirt - you have to bring top performances or you won't play for this club."

George Mills
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

When Plato theorised about his world of Forms many centuries before Christ, he wasn't to know his weighty philosophical musings would one day be exhumed in an email newsletter to describe a silly little football match.

But here I am, hoping my secondary school philosophy teacher will one day read this and know I actually was listening, struggling to think of a better way to describe Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Paris St-Germain. The only way I can is to understand it as a smash-and-grab of such Platonic perfection that it belongs among the great thinker's higher realm of Ideals.

Plato posited all that we see on Earth today is merely an imperfect copy of that which exists in its true form, its perfect form, somewhere beyond the physical. But if he were alive today and signed up to whichever Greek subscription channel broadcasts the Champions League, he will have seen a goalkeeping performance to make him consider tearing up his papyrus scroll.

To pull off such a footballing heist requires magnificence from the man between the sticks - and Alisson duly delivered for his side in the French capital.

"It was probably the performance of my life," he said after the game, before being hailed as "the best in the world" by Liverpool's late goalscoring hero Harvey Elliott.

On Wednesday's evidence, it's impossible to disagree with the youngster. Alisson has only won one Yashin Trophy - the annual award given out since 2019 to the best goalkeeper on the planet - but for my money, there's no other stopper in world football as gifted with both hands and feet.

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The latter were rarely used at the Parc des Prince though, this was a performance that needed hands alone - and multiple pairs, ideally. Alisson made nine saves throughout the contest, the most a Liverpool goalkeeper has made in a single game logged by data site Stathead for at least a decade. Those chances were of decent standard too, Les Parisiens' 27 total shots worthy of a combined 1.6 expected goals during 90 minutes of near-complete dominance. Liverpool had just 30% possession and took only two shots - both season-low tallies by a distance.

To take the conversation to even nerdier heights, we can use Stathead's post-shot expected goals metric to illustrate the quality of PSG's shots on target during the contest. Where xG values the chance at the point of the shot being taken, PSxG shows how likely a shot is to go in after it has been kicked based on where it goes on goal. A powerful shot low to the corner has a high post-shot xG, while a weak shot at the keeper has a low one and a shot off target would return 0.

By this metric, the stats say Alisson's acrobatics actually prevented 2.3 goals, the most-influential goalkeeping performance of the last decade in which Liverpool have kept a clean sheet, according to Stathead's logs.

For all the Brazilian keeper's brilliance, the chips still need to fall your way to win a game in the manner Liverpool managed. All supporters, myself included, can find it tough to acknowledge luck's role in victory, as if in doing so it makes the final result less valid.

However Reds boss Arne Slot had no hesitation pointing out his side were smiled upon by the footballing gods, admitting: "Had we got a draw, we would still have been the lucky ones. They were much the better team today."

With the tie poised deliciously ahead of next week's return leg at Anfield, Slot will know that big improvements are needed to keep their course to the quarter-finals steady.

For now though, Liverpool can savour a famous European victory. On nights like this, when luck and skill collide, even Plato would admit that the shadows on the cave wall aren't bad to look at after all.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Southampton at Anfield (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Cody Gakpo has not yet trained with the squad as he still had "a bit of pain" yesterday, so it will "be a close call" if he can join in Friday's session.

• He said he "might start the same 11" against Southampton as he did against Paris St-Germain but because they "had to fight really hard" on Wednesday there could be changes.

• On getting "a little bit lucky" against PSG: "We weren't a little bit lucky, we were really lucky! But as Michael Jordan said once: 'The harder you work, the luckier you get.'"

• He said the result showed "how mentally and physically strong" his squad are because they "were not the dominant team" but scored on a counter-attack.

• On what sets Alisson apart as a goalkeeper: "Saving shots! No, I think to become the best goalkeeper in the world you sometimes need to make saves others wouldn't make. I think he made one or two on Wednesday. He had two world-class saves in big moments for us."

• He said his "full focus is now on Southampton" as it is "the first of three finals for the upcoming week".

• On the Saints: "They are not playing as a team who are bottom of the league because they take risks, go man-to-man and they saw how difficult we had it with that gameplan against PSG. If you are not sharp or you aren't aggressive enough then they can hurt you."

• He said some of his players "don't get the time they deserve" on the pitch and Harvey Elliott "is a good example" of that because "he is competition with [Mohamed] Salah and [Dominik] Szoboszlai".

Listen to full commentary of Liverpool v Southampton on BBC Radio 5 Live at 15:00 on Saturday

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Mandeep Sanghera
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Arne Slot might still be wondering how his Liverpool side escaped with a 1-0 win over Paris St-Germain on Wednesday, but the main focus of his attention will have switched back to Premier League issues following the game at the Parc des Princes.

The Reds host Southampton on Saturday in what is their only top-flight game in March.

A win will move Liverpool 16 points clear at the top of the Premier League and pile the pressure on second-placed Arsenal to win their two games in hand against Manchester United on Sunday and Chelsea a week later.

Slot will be speaking to the media at 10:00 GMT before the Reds host Saints, who are bottom of the table, and it will be interesting to hear what the Dutchman's thoughts are on his team selection.

Does his side's advantage at the top of the Premier League mean he could choose to rotate some of his players before the return leg against PSG at Anfield on Tuesday?

Cody Gakpo travelled to Paris in midweek but missed the game after picking up a knock in training, so we will also find out where the forward is up to fitness-wise.

The game against Southampton will be the second of Slot's two-game touchline ban for the red card he picked up in the aftermath of the 2-2 draw at Everton, meaning he will be back in the dugout for the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle United on Sunday, 16 March.

Come back to this page later for all the key lines from Slot

Image source, Getty Images

Harvey Elliott admits there are moments he gets "angry and frustrated" at his lack of game time for Liverpool.

The 21-year-old scored with his first touch against Paris St-Germain on Wednesday after coming off the bench in the 86th minute.

"I'm still young - it's a hard thing to understand in my head really," he said.

"I've played nearly 150 games for Liverpool and I feel like I'm very experienced in terms of that aspect. There are moments within the season where I am getting angry and frustrated because I want to play but at the same time I need to respect the situation. I need to respect the manager's decisions.

"Some games I'm needed, some games I'm not - that's just how football is. That's why I feel like we're in the position we are in this season because of his decisions."

Elliott has started only four games this season in all competitions and made 18 appearances overall.

"As a player you always need to stay composed," he said. "Football is full of ups and downs.

"You can go periods of time without playing - it's just about staying motivated and mentally right in the head.

"Moments like [Paris St-Germain] keep me motivated and the hunger is still within me to go out and show what I can do."

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton are winless in their past nine Premier League away games against Liverpool, losing their past six visits to Anfield by an aggregate score of 19-1.

There are 58 points between Liverpool (67) and Southampton (nine) coming into this match - the biggest points difference between two sides coming into a Premier League meeting since July 2020.

Liverpool and Manchester United have asked about the availability of Atalanta's Brazil midfielder Ederson, although Manchester City also have a strong interest in the £50m-rated 25-year-old. (Caught Offside), external

The Reds want to make RB Leipzig and Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko, 21, part of their planned summer overhaul. (Give Me Sport), external

Liverpool could send midfielder Harvey Elliott out on loan next season in order to play more first-team minutes. (Football Insider), external

The Anfield club are monitoring Real Betis winger Jesus Rodriguez, who has a £42m release clause, with Chelsea also interested in the Spain Under-19 international. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Luke Reddy
BBC Sport Senior Journalist

There are many ways to win a football match - and Liverpool seem to be exploring some alternatives.

For Wednesday's late triumph in Paris, the Reds spent large spells on the backfoot, creating occasional promising breakaways but almost entirely lacking care when countering.

In some ways, their defensive stance mirrored the 2-0 win at Manchester City on 23 February, with Arne Slot's side being more clinical and nurturing of the ball when picking their moments at the Etihad.

Consider this: Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister, Liverpool's two deepest midfielders, received a total of 11 passes from the entire back four and goalkeeper in Paris - and all of them went to Mac Allister.

That means the role of a traditionally deep-lying midfielder to receive the ball off the defenders or the keeper completely bypassed Gravenberch as he did not receive a single pass from the five men behind him on the night. Such a move seems like sacrilege for those brought up on a diet of Didier Deschamps, Claude Makelele or - if you're a red - Dietmar Hamann.

So why did it happen? Was the PSG press too suffocating for Liverpool to use their playmaking midfielders? Or is this an alternative way to tackle a football match?

At City, Mac Allister and Gravenberch received a total of nine passes from defenders. All of them were given by the full-backs, with Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate not playing a single ball into the midfield duo.

Contrast these two fixtures with the 2-0 home win over Newcastle that took place between them on 26 February (below graphic). Liverpool's backline played 44 passes into Mac Allister and Gravenberch. That's more than four times the number sent into the midfield frenzy during these past two away matches.

So, while PSG's press was impressive, it seems apparent Slot wants his side to play with less risk on the ball in key areas - notably centrally - in these big away tests. Instead, his aim is to move the ball up the pitch swiftly, bypassing midfield, as they did expertly for Harvey Elliott's late winner.

It is a tactic - or the applying of a handbrake - to watch out for and shows once again that there are many ways to win a football match.

Image source, Getty Images

After his crucial goal against Paris St-Germain, we asked for you what you think the future holds for Harvey Elliott.

Here are some of your comments:

Jimmy: Harvey Elliott is definitely a keeper. He is more than an impact player. He reads the game and has more creativity than anyone else in the squad. But, he doesn't fit into current team as he throws the balance, especially with Mo and Trent on the right. Next season might be different?

Mark: Still a squad player but with more involvement than he's had so far. If Liverpool want to go far in multiple competitions, then they need their squad to be sharp and match-ready.

Archie: Harvey is a great talent and we are lucky to have him! He never complains about his lack of game time and he always has a positive impact when he comes on.

Nath: Harvey Elliott has had a tough season not getting the game time he would've been hoping for. But at 21, with the number of games he already has for Liverpool under his belt and again showing he's able to make an impact, it's only a matter of time before he's a trusted regular for Slot.

Paul: I would love for him to stay and fight for the number-10 spot but it seems Slot doesn't value him too highly and unfortunately will be sold. After watching the Amazon documentary on Klopp and seeing Elliott's parents and upbringing, I love him even more! Would be a sad way to end things.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast about the Reds' win in Paris and the quality Paris Saint-Germain showed.

On PSG keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma being beaten late on by Harvey Elliott's finish, Westerveld said: "He got a hand to it and I think it touched the inside of the post. As a goalkeeper, you feel that you should have done a little bit more and gone with a stronger hand so I really felt sorry for him.

"Paris Saint-Germain must have been walking off the pitch feeling sorry for themselves. But they have an unbelievable side and they caused Liverpool the most problems this season."

The home side had 27 shots in this match – the second-most on record (from 2003-04) for a side in a Champions League knockout match in which they both failed to score and lost, behind only PSG themselves v Borussia Dortmund in May 2024 (30).

"They will play the same next week so Liverpool really has to step up and play differently because otherwise they can still beat Liverpool even 4-0 at Anfield," Westerveld added.

Harvey Elliott has been a squad player at best for Liverpool this season.

After his landmark winner at Paris St-Germain, what do you think the future holds for him?

Squad player? A future starter? Or will he be sold on?

Tell us here

Image source, Getty Images

Only full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold (45) and Andrew Robertson (54) had more touches for Liverpool than Alisson (44) in Wednesday's win over Paris St-Germain. Six of these came outside the penalty area.

Former Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, speaking on Champions League Match of the Day:

"If they [Liverpool] go through to the next round, they have to thank Alisson Becker because tonight he gave an unbelievable performance. I'm looking forward to the second leg and wondering how PSG are going to recover from it, because they were the much better team and yet they didn't get anything out of this game.

"I doubt Alisson is going to have another night like tonight because this was exceptional. We've seen performances like this before, but they don't happen regularly."

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha:

"You want people coming off the bench to make a difference and, I'll be honest, when I'm seeing Mohamed Salah coming off for Harvey Elliott, I'm thinking it's probably not the most progressive substitution.

"But, the fact is the manager trusts him and he knows this is a moment to go out and work as hard as you can for the team and that's what he does.

"It's a fantastic moment for him, and for Darwin Nunez as well setting up the goal. That's what you need at times when you are suffering as a team, you're just hoping for a moment and then, if it does come, can you take it?"

Image source, Getty Images

French football journalist Julien Laurens says Paris St-Germain will "go for it" at Anfield after dominating Wednesday's Champions League round of 16 first leg against Liverpool despite a 1-0 defeat.

The French champions had 27 shots in the match - the second-most on record by a side in a Champions League knockout match in which they both failed to score and lost.

"This PSG team only plays one way home or away," Laurens told the Football Daily podcast.

"You can force them to play long because they can't get out of your press and make it difficult but they will always try and play.

"There were times I didn't really recognise the Liverpool team we have seen this season. Virgil van Dijk, the best defender in the world, doesn't time waste after 15 minutes, he doesn't often play that long. It's not often Mohammed Salah is that anonymous. PSG forced them to play like that."

Visiting Anfield next week will be a different proposition for Luis Enrique's side, and Laurens believes the Reds can disrupt their opponents in a similar way to what was done to them.

"I expect Liverpool to do the same next week to Paris and force them to not play their game," he added. "Liverpool will be in their faces and they also have a lead. They can't attack all the time and leave space in behind.

"The way both teams approach the game will be really interesting. For PSG they have to go for it. They might lose 3-1 for it because they will give Liverpool spaces, they will attack and try and play in their half like they did in Paris.

"It is much more difficult to do away from home, especially in Liverpool, and they might pay for it but they will go for it for sure."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Liverpool's Champions League win against Paris St-Germain on Wednesday.

Here are some of your comments:

Mark: PSG 0 Alisson 1. Best goalkeeper performance I've ever seen, fantastic.

Mogga: Wow, if that had been a boxing match the ref would have stopped it. Big night for Alisson and Elliott with his first touch. You've got to believe anything is possible now.

Karen: Stunning game. Alisson deservedly man of the match. Robust performance by PSG but could not break Liverpool. Well done LFC! Onwards we go. Another great European win.

Christian: The longer that game went without a PSG goal, the more it felt probable Liverpool would snatch it. Inspired substitutions from Slot (the bravery to take off Mo) and a truly heroic, world-class performance from Alisson. The second leg will be must-see football. I can't wait.

Ray: "Lucky lucky Liverpool" is what everyone will be saying but who cares? Get in. Normally we are saying "what an attacking performance". This time it's "what a goalkeeping performance". Well done Alisson Becker.

Sam: Never seen Liverpool get dominated like that, Alisson was unreal. Anfield will be a different story.

Andy: Trent Alexander-Arnold defended excellently to be fair to him, Barcola and Kvaratskhelia didn't get any change out of him. Alisson will get the plaudits but Trent deserves some praise given all the flak he usually takes.

Image source, Getty Images

"Best in the world" Alisson was "outstanding" for Liverpool in Wednesday's famous 1-0 win in the Parc des Princes, says former Reds defender Stephen Warnock.

His nine saves were the most by a Liverpool goalkeeper in a Champions League game since Opta started recording the data in 2003-04.

"It was just phenomenal," Warnock told the Football Daily podcast. "It wasn't one world class save, there was three or four in there. I just thought he was outstanding.

"It's one of those games where no matter what they threw at him he was going to save it. He is, at his best, the best in the world for me.

"What will [Giorgi] Marmadashvilli be thinking now at Valencia? 'I'm meant to replace this guy or get in front of him?' Big gloves to fill.

"He's superb at reading situations. There was one in the second half where he allowed the ball to bounce because he knew when it bounced up he could punch it away as he dived for it. The awareness of what's around him and how to deal with situations is amazing.

"His decision-making his exceptional. He doesn't come out into a crowd really and try and catch things because he's probably not as tall as most other goalkeepers.

"His punching and distribution is phenomenal but for me it's those one-v-one situations. [Ousmane] Dembele in the first half probably thinks he's got four or five yards on Alisson and can pick his head up but before he knows it's there's a guy in yellow who has closed the space. He does it so so quickly."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Liverpool are lining up a £40m move for Bournemouth's 21-year-old Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez. (Telegraph - subscription required), external

Real Madrid are interested in 25-year-old France defender Ibrahima Konate. (Mail - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport