Liverpool

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot, speaking to TNT Sports after Wednesday's Champions League win against Paris St-Germain:

"There were a lot of similarities with our game against Manchester City, where we faced a team that is so good in ball possession and have some great wingers that dominate one v one situations.

"I said before the game that we would not dominate ball possession over here. The only thing I can blame my players for is that four, five or six times we tried to play through them and it was completely open and the last touch should be better.

"Maybe it was due to tiredness from defending so much. That is sometimes difficult after defending so much.

"If you look at the underlying stats in the Champions League too, it shows you they were number one and they have already played Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Arsenal. To have the best stats after facing that quality tells you a lot.

"For us, the only way over here with their fans behind them was to defend as we did. Now we are hoping that our fans at Anfield will help us a lot. We will need Anfield two times."

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Liverpool goalscorer Harvey Elliott, speaking to TNT Sports after his winner against Paris St-Germain:

"Full credit to the team, you could see that PSG became a bit tired towards the end and that was down to the team's workrate.

"They were creating many chances but thanks to this man [Alisson] and the defence, we did it. It was down to me to put the opportunity away and thankfully it went in."

On Alisson's performance: "No words. This guy is unbelievable. The best in the world. Every game he shows it, he keeps us in so many games.

"Tonight I had an opportunity to repay this man. I don't know where we would be without him. Hopefully he can keep stopping them going in and we can keep finishing chances."

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Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson, speaking to TNT Sports after Wednesday's Champions League win against Paris St-Germain:

"It was probably the performance of my life. 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.

"We worked hard. We gave away so many chances, sometimes one v one, but the biggest part of the chase is having someone make the player with the chance think a bit more.

"All the efforts the team put in makes my job easier. Then at the end, Harvey [Elliott] coming in and scoring the goal, it is a great story for us. A great night."

• Have your say on Liverpool's win

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Former Liverpool defender Stephen Warnock, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live after the Reds' Champions League win against Paris St-Germain:

"You need your goalkeeper to be at his very best - and he was.

"Harvey Elliott has just jumped on Alisson and given him a big hug. They're probably thinking how they got away with that - they got away with it because of Alisson. It was just a world-class performance from the goalkeeper.

"You buy those type of players for performances like that. That's why he was brought into the club, because he was recognised as arguably the best goalkeeper in world football.

"That's how you win titles, that's how they won the Champions League [in 2019] because Alisson was so key to the way they performed."

• Have your say on Liverpool's performance

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

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Liverpool boss Arne Slot has enjoyed a magnificent first season in English football - with the Reds losing just four games - and only one of them was with their first team in a match of significance.

The Premier League leaders and Carabao Cup finalists are usually the team punishing the opposition but for the first time they were blown away - in every aspect bar the scoreline.

Brazil goalkeeper Alisson was the reason they came away from the French capital still in the tie.

He pulled off sensational saves, nine in total, to deny a host of PSG players including Ousmane Dembele (twice), Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (four times) and substitute Desire Doue (twice).

The visitors had managed precisely one shot before the goal, Luis Diaz's off-target effort in the 44th minute.

But Harvey Elliott stunned the hosts 46 seconds after coming off the bench to replace top scorer Mohamed Salah, who had a rare quiet night.

Alisson played a long ball up to Darwin Nunez, who controlled the ball and picked out Elliott in space. Gianluigi Donnarumma got a touch to his first-time strike but could not stop it settling in the bottom corner.

That goal now makes Liverpool favourites to set up a quarter-final tie with Aston Villa or Club Brugge.

Harvey Elliott's late goal secured a 1-0 win for Liverpool in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in Paris.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Liverpool's performance

Come back to this page on Thursday to find a selection of your replies

There are four Champions League last-16 games on Wednesday and BBC Sport will bring you all the action.

• Feyenoord v Inter Milan (17:45)

• Bayern Munich v Bayer Leverkusen

• Benfica v Barcelona

• Paris St-Germain v Liverpool - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times: 20:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

Raphael Jucobin
BBC Sport

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The all-conquering form of a rejuvenated Paris St-Germain would have seemed unlikely at the start of the season.

Portugal international Goncalo Ramos was sidelined for three months with an ankle injury, while Randal Kolo Muani was progressively phased out of the team, eventually culminating in his loan move to Juventus this winter.

Initially, it was Bradley Barcola, from the left wing, who took up the mantle by scoring 10 times in the first 11 league games of the campaign.

Having carried over his goalscoring form to international duty amid Kylian Mbappe's absence from Les Bleus, the 22-year-old was looking increasingly at ease in carrying the now-Real Madrid man's responsibilities for club and country.

His form only faintly translated to Champions League fixtures, though, as was the case for the rest of the team. Successive false-nine experiments, notably involving Kang-in Lee and Ousmane Dembele, were proving mostly ineffective as the team registered just one win in the first five European matchdays.

The team's league stage campaign, branded by manager Luis Enrique as "unjust" given the tough draw they faced, was stunted by an inability to capitalise on their dominance in possession in most games.

A disastrous early exit in January was an increasingly credible prospect, until the pieces of the Spaniard's plan finally began to fall into place.

PSG's free-scoring run since January has included 18 goals in four European encounters, a figure admittedly inflated by Brest's unfortunate collapse in their play-off tie.

Read the full feature

Liverpool manager Arne Slot says that the upcoming Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain is a "great fixture to look forward to for everyone who enjoys football."

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Former Liverpool midfielder Bolo Zenden believes Arne Slot's team will edge Paris St-Germain in the Champions League last 16.

The Reds finished top of the league phase and are also closing in on the Premier League title this season, while their hosts on Wednesday are cruising in Ligue 1 and appear to have rediscovered their mojo after a stuttering start to their Champions League campaign.

"Paris St-Germain are running away with the French league, so a common problem is knowing where they stand when they play in the Champions League," Zenden told BBC Radio 5 Live before the first leg at the Parc des Princes.

"I don't want to push Liverpool into the favourites role, but I think they could be the team that goes through with the second leg at home."

Whoever progresses out of Liverpool and PSG will face either Aston Villa or Club Brugge in the quarter-finals.

Before Liverpool's Champions League last-16 first leg at Paris St-Germain on Wednesday, midfielder Wataru Endo was asked for his reflections on how much playing time he has had this season.

The Japan midfielder has started just six games for Liverpool in all competitions so far and none in the Premier League.

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Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton thinks Liverpool face a daunting task if they are to beat Paris St-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday.

Liverpool travel to Parc des Princes before the return leg at Anfield on Tuesday, 11 March.

"I think this is a dangerous game for Liverpool," Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live. "Of course, Liverpool are flying in the Premier League but I think Arne Slot was quite right about the draw - they would have much preferred Benfica.

"PSG have players who can really hurt Liverpool. Liverpool have had a phenomenal season but I think they've got their work cut out to beat PSG - I really do. I think it will be tight going to Anfield.

"I wouldn't rule anything out in this tie. I think that is the tie of the round and Liverpool have been phenomenal this season.

"Can they do the Champions League double along with the Premier League? Of course ,they've got the Carabao Cup final coming up and for them to be in this position, at this stage of the competition, nobody saw this coming from Arne Slot."

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Liverpool have lost each of their past three games in the knockout stages of the Champions League, with all three defeats coming against holders Real Madrid.

However...

According to Opta, the Reds remain the overall favourites to win the entire competition this season (18.7%). Wednesday's opponents Paris St-Germain are rated sixth to win the tournament at 9.2%.

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Sunday, 5 March 2023. Two years ago today, it is worth reliving Liverpool beating Manchester United 7-0.

Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez scored two each and Roberto Firmino scored the seventh.

A nice memory to fire up the Reds for tonight's trip to Paris St-Germain.

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Liverpool are considering an approach for Portugal international Rafael Leao, 25, but the AC Milan forward is also wanted by Barcelona. (Teamtalk), external

Meanwhile, the Reds are also interested in Borussia Dortmund's English winger Jamie Gittens, 20,with Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham also monitoring his situation. (Sky Germany - in German), external

At the back, Liverpool want Wolfsburg's Konstantinos Koulierakis, 21, but could face competition from Crystal Palace and Aston Villa for the Greece defender. (Caught Offside), external

Milos Kerkez, 21, is expected to leave Bournemouth for a new challenge in the summer with the Reds keeping an eye on the Hungary left-back. (Fabrizio Romano), external

Finally, Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez, 25, told Liverpool he was unhappy and wanted to leave in January but a switch to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal was blocked. (Football Insider), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Champions League game against Paris St-Germain (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Cody Gakpo has travelled with the squad but Slot said he will be assessed before Wednesday's game: "He was close to being ready to play again, but unfortunately on Monday he had to block a shot and felt a bit of pain again. We will judge how he is on Wednesday and if he can be part of the squad, but it will be a close call."

• Asked about the written reasons for his two-match touchline ban, stemming from his red card after the draw against Everton, being published by the Football Association on Tuesday: "The moment it happened, I was quite emotional. I chose to go on the pitch instead of staying calm, staying inside and then talking to Michael [Oliver, referee]. Now, I don't have those same emotions any more so I think I should set a better example than I set back then and not go into the situation again."

• Slot said he sees PSG as "one of the strongest teams in Europe" and added: "It's a great fixture to look forward to for everyone who loves football. Both teams have scored so many goals this season. They have quite similar playing styles."

• He continued: "Luis Enrique has done a lot of things really well over the past one and a half seasons. I assume he is happy with what he has created, not only a team performance but also individual performances. The quality [Ousmane] Dembele brings to the team is impressive. It's clear he's done a great job. They got to the Champions League semi-final last season and, in my opinion, this team is better than the one he managed last season."

• On whether Liverpool are the best team in Europe: "It's a nice compliment to get, but the best team in Europe has to win the Champions League and we are far away from that, starting with a difficult game tomorrow."

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Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has said he feels he is "trusted a lot" by manager Arne Slot, despite only starting six games in all competitions for the Reds so far this season.

The Japan international, who has made a further 17 appearances as a substitute this term, said: "I often come on for the last 15-20 minutes, especially when we are in a winning situation.

"I want to help my team-mates on the pitch. I think I've been playing well so far and can help the team in games. I'll try to keep playing well when I get the chance to play.

"I've had conversations with the manager a few times during the season. He has told me my attitude and what I have done for the team is always unbelievable.

"I feel like he trusts me a lot. I'm happy to be here, I will keep working hard in training and working hard on the pitch as well."

Endo was speaking at a news conference previewing the first leg of Liverpool's Champions League last-16 tie against Paris St-Germain on Wednesday.

"Offensively, they always try to play football," he said of PSG. "Their wingers are key when they attack, they have a lot of good wingers and I think [Ousmane] Dembele is the top scorer in the team so we need to take care of him.

"They are all good players, but also we are here to show [that] ourselves. It's going to be a very exciting game."

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Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo did not train with the squad on Tuesday before Wednesday's Champions League last-16 first leg against Paris St-Germain.

Gakpo, who is the Reds second highest scorer this season with 16, has been battling an ankle problem in recent weeks and is now a major doubt after missing the final session before flying to France.

Head coach Arne Slot is due to speak to the media at about 18:30 GMT.

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