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Elliott Gives Liverpool Slender Win Over PSG In Champions League

Published

8 months ago

March 6, 2025

Harvey Elliott scored with his first touch after coming on as a late substitute to give Liverpool an unlikely 1-0 win away to Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their heavyweight Champions League last-16 tie on Wednesday.

Elliott had just replaced Mohamed Salah when he fired in from a Darwin Nunez assist in the 87th minute at the Parc des Princes to hand the Premier League leaders the advantage ahead of next week’s return.

It was the ultimate smash and grab act from Arne Slot’s side, who up to that point had survived a pummelling from in-form PSG.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had a first-half strike disallowed for a marginal offside and Alisson Becker made several crucial saves as the French league leaders had 28 attempts on goal to their visitors’ two.

Salah had been almost completely anonymous as Liverpool looked set to fail to score in a game for just the fourth time all season, but now they will be confident of pressing home their advantage at Anfield.

If they emerge victorious, a quarter-final against Aston Villa or Club Brugge awaits, although PSG showed enough to suggest they will again be extremely dangerous in England.

Luis Enrique’s team came into this game on a run of 10 straight victories and had scored 21 goals in their last five Champions League outings, including a 4-2 defeat of Manchester City in January.

This performance, however, was more like those at the start of their Champions League campaign, when they struggled to turn chances into goals in defeats against the likes of Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.

January signing Kvaratskhelia had been selected instead of exciting teenage prospect Desire Doue, and the Georgian completed a fluid front three alongside Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele.

Liverpool, meanwhile, were without Cody Gakpo, so Diogo Jota came in for his first appearance in the Champions League since October 2.

The hotly anticipated clash between the runaway leaders of the English and French leagues had the potential to be Liverpool’s toughest test this season, and that is how the game panned out for long spells.

PSG are no longer a team dominated by a couple of superstar forwards, but rather a voracious collective of dynamic, hard-working young players under the guidance of their intense Spanish coach.

– Alisson stars –
They pinned Liverpool back from the off and enjoyed 65 percent possession over the course of the game.

Kvaratskhelia thought he had opened the scoring on 20 minutes when he collected a Vitinha pass inside the area and curled a shot beyond Alisson into the far corner.

The home players and fans celebrated, but the goal was eventually disallowed for a tight offside decision.

Liverpool were off the hook, as was the case when Joao Neves fired over from a low Dembele centre a little earlier, and when Alisson saved from Dembele on the half-hour and the ball came to Barcola whose shot was too high.

The home side might have feared Salah, but the Egyptian could not get into the game as PSG attacked in droves.

There was a VAR check for a possible red card when Barcola was knocked over by Ibrahima Konate on the edge of the area as he chased onto a long ball, but the Italian officials let the Liverpool defender off.

Paris continued to launch a barrage of attacks after the break, their counter-pressing game making it difficult for Liverpool to escape their half.

Kvaratskhelia tested Alisson from a free-kick and Achraf Hakimi sent a shot narrowly over, before Doue was denied by a brilliant save from Liverpool’s Brazilian goalkeeper.

Doue, on as a substitute, cut in from the left 10 minutes from the end and sent a shot curling towards the far top corner, but Alisson flew to his left and stretched to tip the ball behind.

It was not going to be PSG’s night, and when Alisson sent a long kick downfield three minutes from time, Nunez won the ball in the air before teeing up Elliott to shoot beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma into the far corner.

AFP

Related Topics:#Liverpool Champions League Elliott PSG

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Sports

EPL: Trossard Strike As Arsenal Beat Fulham 1-0

Published

8 hours ago

October 18, 2025

Editor

Arsenal edged past Fulham with a narrow 1-0 victory at Craven Cottage, climbing three points clear at the top of the Premier League table. The result marked another composed and professional display from Mikel Arteta’s side, who continue to show their title credentials.

The decisive moment came in the second half when Leandro Trossard calmly finished after a clever set-piece routine.

Bukayo Saka delivered a dangerous corner that was flicked on by Gabriel, setting up Trossard to slot home the winner.

Arteta’s side dominated possession throughout, limiting Fulham to very few chances in front of goal.

The hosts struggled to create any real threat, with Arsenal’s defence staying compact and composed.

With the victory, Arsenal overtake Manchester City to sit three points clear at the summit after another disciplined away performance.

More to follow…

Sports

EPL: Nottingham Forest Sacks Postecoglou After 3-0 Defeat To Chelsea

Published

14 hours ago

October 18, 2025

Editor

Nottingham Forest have sacked Ange Postecoglou barely minutes after their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.

A statement from the Premier league club, released 20 minutes after full-time at the City Ground, reads: “Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect.

“The club will make no further comment at this time.”

Postecoglou was in charge for eight games and six of those ended in defeat.

It included an early Carabao Cup exit at Championship club Swansea City, when Forest led 2-1 in the 92nd minute before conceding two in four minutes to lose 3-2.

The other two games – away at Burnley (Premier League) and Real Betis (Europa League) ended in draws.

Sports

Edo Sports Commission Boss Charges New Armwrestling Board To Prioritize Accessibility, Sponsorship

Published

1 day ago

October 17, 2025

Editor

Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has charged members of the newly inaugurated Edo State Armwrestling Association board to embrace openness, accessibility, and proactive engagement with athletes and stakeholders.

Enabulele gave the charge during the board’s inauguration held at the Media Centre of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

The event had in attendance Executive Directors, the Permanent Secretary, and other top officials of the Commission.

In a statement signed by his Media Officer, Mr. Edoko Wilson Edoko, the sports commission boss described the inauguration as “a new dawn in our collective journey to strengthen and elevate the standard of sports development in Edo State.”

He urged the new executives to pursue sponsorships and partnerships that would drive growth and sustain the association’s programmes.

“Financial support is the lifeblood of sports,” Enabulele said.

“Through partnerships and sponsorships, we can provide the resources needed to nurture our athletes and expand our programmes.”

The Chairman also called for approachable leadership, encouraging the board to remain open to athletes, coaches, and stakeholders.

“Your guidance and presence will foster unity, strengthen teamwork, and create a culture of accountability and progress,” he added.

Enabulele further announced plans to introduce quarterly appraisal sessions between the Commission and sports associations to ensure proper monitoring and measurable progress.

“These sessions will allow us to review achievements, address challenges, and design strategies for continued success,” he explained.

He urged the new board members to carry out their duties with dedication and vision, stressing that their collective efforts would transform Edo sports and inspire the next generation of champions.

In his response, the new Chairman of the Edo Armwrestling Association, Mr. Eromosele Albert, pledged to organize both national and international armwrestling competitions to boost the sport’s visibility and give Edo athletes more exposure.

Albert noted that armwrestling is gaining rapid popularity in the United States and Canada and promised to leverage global trends to enhance the sport’s profile and financial sustainability in Edo State.

He also expressed confidence that Team Edo would perform strongly at the next National Sports Festival, where the sport offers 34 gold medals.

The inauguration ceremony ended with exhibition matches featuring male and female athletes competing in both left and right-hand categories.

Those inaugurated into the board include: Mr. Eromosele Albert (Chairman), Divine Rosemary (Acting Secretary/Coach), Hon. Frank Ilaboya, Mr. Johnson Femi, Mr. Johnny Summers, Mr. Osagie Oghuma Peter, Dr. Benson Ogala, and Mr. Iraoya Olarenwaju.