Julien Laurens says PSG 'made Liverpool look ordinary' despite 1-0 loss to Reds in UEFA Champions League last-16 tie

React to this story

Harvey Elliott struck a late winner to repay Alisson's heroic performance in goal to snatch a 1-0 win at Paris Saint-Germain to edge the first leg of their blockbuster UEFA Champions League last-16 tie. The Parisians were undoubtedly on top throughout much of the game, but it was the visitors who executed a precision attack in the final moments and stole a win at the Parc des Princes.

Laurens: PSG made Liverpool 'look ordinary, like Ligue 1 team' in 1-0 defeat

Video credit: TNT Sports

Julien Laurens said that Paris Saint-Germain "made Liverpool look ordinary" in their UEFA Champions League clash, despite the Reds leaving Paris with a 1-0 win.

Arne Slot's side withstood huge pressure over almost 90 minutes before Harvey Elliot scored the winner for Liverpool.

The Parisians were in control for almost the entirety of the match but, thanks to Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson and his nine saves, the visitors hung on.

Champions League

Tchouameni defends Alonso, says squad 'have to do a better job'

09/12/2025 at 15:18

"We've seen them before when you don't take your chances," Laurens said about PSG. "Dominating is not winning. You can be ahead in all the stats, you can outplay your opponent. I think PSG made Liverpool look ordinary at times, certainly with the ball going forward.

"Defensively, they were solid. Alisson was amazing, one of the best goalkeepers in the world. But Salah and Diaz, Jota, even Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, didn't really look like the Liverpool of this season.

"PSG forced them to long play, forced them to not be at their best and I thought PSG were outstanding. It's such a fantastic young team, but it's a young team. You saw them today, if it's not happening for you in the 85th minute, just see the game out and get a draw."

Highlights: Super-sub Elliott gives Liverpool valuable first-leg lead over PSG

Video credit: TNT Sports

"At times, they made them play like some of the Ligue 1 teams that come here and play quite deep and play on the counter. This is not the Liverpool team that we've been used to, so credit to PSG for that. It was still not enough because they could not beat Alisson and credit to Liverpool for being resilient.

"But from a PSG point of view, I thought they were outstanding."

Laurens noted that it echoed a similar PSG performance in the league phase, where they were unable to turn dominance against Atletico Madrid into goals and the Spaniards snuck away a late goal just like Liverpool did in Paris.

"Instead, it was quite reminiscent of the game against Atletic Madrid in the league phase where they were super dominant, and the last kick of the game they conceded the second goal from Atletico. It looked like they haven't learnt much from that Atletico game because the same happened tonight."

Salah has to win the Champions League to claim Ballon d’Or glory - McManaman

Video credit: TNT Sports

PSG now have the unenviable task of going to Anfield for the second leg, where they have not lost a game since September.

As evidenced tonight, PSG's exciting and positive attacking style can cause trouble for any side, but implementing that at Anfield where the Kop will imbue Liverpool with an added vigour will be a mountainous task.

"Home and away they always play the same. This is very much Luis Enrique's style, and yeah, it might be more difficult to put that in place at Anfield.

"Liverpool can't have another game like tonight. That's not gonna happen next week and I think PSG know it. They will have to go for it and that might be costly because they have to attack.

"They will go there with their style and believe they can do it. Last season, they overturned the tie against Barcelona, but this Liverpool team is so much more resilient."

'OF COURSE, WE ARE GOING TO DO IT'

PSG boss Luis Enrique was pleased with his side's performance despite ending up on the losing side.

"It’s difficult to think about the match in a positive way because I think we deserved to win, clearly. We created a lot of chances," the Spaniard told TNT Sports.

"I think it’s one of the best matches that we did in the Champions League this season.

Watch Alisson's key match-winning saves in Liverpool's dramatic victory over PSG

Video credit: TNT Sports

"When you think that the best player of Liverpool was their goalkeeper, Alisson, football is unfair and we have to accept that. But we are ready to [go to] Liverpool.

"We don’t have anything to lose. I think we’ve overcome Liverpool. Liverpool is the best team in Europe and today they almost create one or two chances maximum and we created a lot. I feel proud of my players, my team, of the supporters."

When asked if PSG can surmount the uphill battle ahead of them against the most resilient of sides, Enrique finished with a simple yet confident response.

"Of course, we are going to do it."

Enrique says PSG deserved more

PSG manager Luis Enrique believes his side were better than Liverpool at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday night.

The hosts dominated possession and had 27 shots on goal compared to Liverpool's two.

"I don't think it's too difficult to analyse tonight's game," he said.

"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."

Alisson Becker was superb for The Reds on the night, making several key saves to keep them in the contest.

Enrique felt the Brazilian was Liverpool's best player during a difficult evening for Arne Slot's side.

"We deserved more," added 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."

TNT Sports will show over 500 matches from the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League across the 2024/25 season. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports and entertainment in one destination.

UEFA Super Cup