Seven victories, 19 goals scored, only one goal collected. This was Liverpool's assessment facing a club in France on the occasion of the return match of a direct elimination confrontation before facing Paris Saint-Germain, Tuesday evening, on the side of Anfield. Such a frightening statistic before kick -off as significant with the final whistle. And for good reason. Far from being frightened by the mountain which stood in front of them and despite the cruel defeat suffered at the Parc des Princes last week, the Parisians – now orphans of Mbappé, Messi, Neymar & Co – managed to reverse the situation during the return match at the end of a penalty session marked by the two decisive judgments of Gianluigi Donnarumma.
An identical eleven, impactful changes
Before that, Ousmane Dembélé had scored the only goal of the meeting in regulation time (12th), thus equalizing on all of the two games (1-1 in the cumulation). A dreamed evening where the project carried by Luis Enrique since his arrival on the Parisian bench is also a big winner. “We just showed what type of team we are, who plays her own football, whatever the field where she moves, even if it was not easy at times here. We lived up to what the match was demanding “soberly confided the Spanish technician. True to its principles – some will qualify it as stubborn for this fact – the native of Gijon has nevertheless made many choices that proves to be paid.
Among them, that of leaving with the same starting eleven while many observers expected, for example, to see Désiré Doué from the outset. Sure of his forces and most certainly put confidence by the collective proposal of his own in the first leg (despite the defeat), the ex-selection of La Roja therefore renewed his 4-3-3 with a midfielder made up of Joao Neves, Vitinha and Fabian Ruiz. In front, Bradley Barcola, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia accompanied Ousmane Dembélé. Shaken at the start of the match and very close to cracking, especially against Mohamed Salah, PSG ended up getting stuck and being dangerous (1.97 xg in the first half, the highest total recorded by a visiting team in a full match in Anfield this season, all competitions combined).
Luis Enrique succeeded in his bet
And when the Reds storm took more beautiful on the return from the locker room? Luis Enrique still reacted by launching Désiré Doué. A choice there too winning, as the Parisian crack destabilized the Liverpuldian defense before registering the last penalty, synonymous with qualification, in front of the 3000 supporters present. A few minutes later, Warren Zaïre -Emery – who entered the place of Fabian Ruiz – and Lucas Beraldo – Marquinhos successor for extra time – also gave right to the 54 -year -old Spanish. “I really liked what I saw, even if we were sometimes dominated and Liverpool would have deserved to mark”confided, as such, Luis Enrique at a press conference.
Accepting (or more honestly constrained) on many sequences, to defend in a low block on the lawn of Anfield, PSG did not hesitate to use long balloons to jump the red lines and thus get out of the intense pressing from the Arne Slot band. An unusual scheme for the defending champions of France, accustomed to taking control of operations from start to finish, but which ultimately also paid off. “It is obvious that it brings us something very positive. We are in a good dynamic. All this confirms us in what we do ”added, with this in mind, the coach passed through Barça.
An efficient eleven, efficient changes, an ability to manage highlights and weaknesses, agree to defend below without denying itself … PSG had, certainly, not the certainty of qualifying as Nasser al-Khelaïfi recalled, but did everything to reverse the undisputed leader of Premier League. Even not preparing, upstream, a possible penalty shootout. “Experience proved to me that it is not necessary. Particularly with Spain against Morocco at the World Cup (elimination in 8th, 0-0, 0-3 at TAB). This Tuesday, the players felt to shoot them ”justified the architect of the Red and Blue before concluding: “Everything that can happen about the team around the team seems wonderful to me. We will not change our mentality, our intentions. Our goal is to be in a position to win this competition. We know how difficult it is to win it, but it is obvious that it strengthens us ”. Recently extended until 2027, Luis Enrique also, more than ever, reinforced his position.
