We told you Tuesday was going to be great. We were right.
Perhaps the most anticipated match of the entire Champions League group stage helped kick things off as the UCL returned in earnest on Tuesday — and Liverpool vs. PSG more than lived up to expectations.
The defending French champion and the reigning Champions League runner-up met at Anfield and played an absolute barnburner. Liverpool won 3-2 on the night, but we can’t wait for these two to meet again Nov. 28 in Paris.
The match marked the first time two German managers faced off in the Champions League with non-German clubs and the two former Borussia Dortmund coaches had their clubs going full tilt throughout the 90 minutes. At times Liverpool was on top, running rampant with Mo Salah and Sadio Mané. Other times PSG dominated, with Neymar and Kylian Mbappé causing all sorts of problems.
But it was Bobby Firmino, a second-half sub after suffering an awful eye injury, who scored the winner in dramatic fashion.
Firmino could barely see the last few days after he took Jan Vertonghen’s finger to the eye against Tottenham on Saturday. He started Tuesday’s match on the bench and came on in the 72nd minute. The Brazilian striker scored the match winner in the 91st minute, capitalizing on an error from Mbappé, who was dispossessed in a dangerous position.
PSG's Marquinhos then gave a textbook definition of how not to play defense and was punished by a brilliant finish from his fellow Brazilian. Firmino then let everyone know he was still partially blind with his celebration, rubbing salt in the wounds of Tottenham, which collapsed late against Inter Milan on Tuesday.
90+1' ¡LOCURAAAAAAA EN AAAAAAANFIEEEEEEEELD, ESTO ES LAAAAA CHAAAMPIOOOOOOOONS!
FIRMINO
FIRMINO
FIRMINO
FIRMINO
FIRMINO @LFC 3-2 @PSG_Inside #LIVPAR #LaChampionsUD pic.twitter.com/vLiHyVZTuI— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) September 18, 2018
Liverpool Vs PSG Highlights
Though PSG had plenty of possession, the majority of the Liverpool vs PSG highlights in the first half belonged to the Reds, starting with Mané absolutely torching Neymar.
Neymar got GOT pic.twitter.com/H6CBCAaTDr
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 18, 2018
Neymar’s not exactly known for his defense, but nobody wants to get beat that bad.
Moments later, Liverpool went ahead through Daniel Sturridge, who was playing in his first Champions League match since dinosaurs roamed the land.
Daniel Sturridge finds the back of the net first.
— Bleacher Report Live (@brlive) September 18, 2018
It got worse for PSG when Georginio Wijnaldum was taken down in the box. James Milner buried the penalty to make it 2-0 for Liverpool, swishing the ball into the back of the net.
Milner finishes the pk and Liverpool doubles the lead
Watch Live NOW https://t.co/CQAd0vG5CR pic.twitter.com/co0auSVNhM— Bleacher Report Live (@brlive) September 18, 2018
PSG pulled one back five minutes before halftime through right back Thomas Meunier, though Edinson Cavani looked offside in the lead-up.
What a first half
PSG gets one back before the break from Thomas Meunier.Catch the second half here https://t.co/CQAd0vG5CR pic.twitter.com/7Vw5mUkQzJ
— Bleacher Report Live (@brlive) September 18, 2018
While that goal wasn’t called back, Liverpool did have one called back in the second half. Mo Salah poked home a goal, but the end-line official told the center ref to disallow it because Sturridge had placed his cleats squarely into Alphonse Areola’s man parts.
57' EGYPTIAAAAAN KII... ¿QUÉ? ¿QUÉ HICISTE STURRIDGEEEEE ?
Gol ANULADO para el @LFC#LIVPAR
Sigue #LaChampionsUD EN VIVO por @Univision y https://t.co/BbpECnn3qu pic.twitter.com/IJW0LkMl4Q— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) September 18, 2018
Salah then had his misfortune doubled in the 83rd minute. The Egyptian winger had his pass picked off and turned into a late equalizer. Julian Draxler’s interception fell to Neymar, who then pressed down on the sprint button as hard as he could to run at the Liverpool defense. Ultimately the ball bounced to Mbappé, whose finish was impeccable.
83' ¡GOOOOOOOOOOOL DE MBAPPÉ!
¿Se repite la historia del primer juego del año pasado para los 'reds'? @LFC 2-2 @PSG_Inside pic.twitter.com/4W5gOXBijm— Univision Deportes (@UnivisionSports) September 18, 2018
But PSG couldn’t hold on to the draw on the road, as Mbappé gave the ball away in extra time allowing Firmino’s excellent winner.
What a match
Roberto Firmino gets the stoppage-time winner for @LFC! pic.twitter.com/cOygjXGz57— Bleacher Report Live (@brlive) September 18, 2018