Liverpool star nearly breaks Lookman’s UCL record in PSG win
But unlike Lookman, whose goal couldn't save Atalanta, Elliot's late strike made all the difference for the Reds in Paris.
Harvey Elliott made history with his late winner in Liverpool’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 first-leg.
The young midfielder found the net just 46 seconds after coming on as a substitute, making it the second-fastest goal by a substitute in the competition this season—only behind Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman, who scored 35 seconds after coming on for Atalanta against Club Brugge.
But unlike Lookman, whose goal couldn't save Atalanta, Elliot's late strike made all the difference for the Reds in Paris.
Alisson’s heroics keep PSG at bay
Liverpool’s victory in Paris was built on an extraordinary defensive performance, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker delivering a record-breaking display.
The Brazilian shot-stopper made nine saves, the most ever recorded by a Liverpool goalkeeper in a single Champions League match (since Opta’s data tracking began in 2003/04).
PSG dominated possession and launched wave after wave of attacks, but Alisson single-handedly kept them at bay.
He denied Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembélé, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in a relentless first half, with Kvaratskhelia also seeing a stunning goal ruled out by VAR for offside.
Even after the break, PSG continued to press for a breakthrough. Substitute Désiré Doué nearly curled in a spectacular effort in the 80th minute, only for Alisson to produce yet another world-class save.
Elliott’s late heroics stun PSG
Despite being under pressure for most of the game, Liverpool struck late in dramatic fashion. Elliott, brought on as a substitute, wasted no time making an impact.
Just 46 seconds after stepping onto the pitch, the 20-year-old latched onto a loose ball and fired home to seal a crucial away victory.
While Elliott narrowly missed out on breaking Lookman’s record for the fastest UCL goal by a substitute this season, his strike could prove just as significant, giving Liverpool a vital edge heading into the second leg at Anfield.
What’s Next?
Liverpool now hold a slender advantage ahead of the return leg, where they will look to finish the job at home.
Meanwhile, PSG must find a way past Alisson and Liverpool’s resilient defense if they hope to keep their Champions League dreams alive.
