Ivan Juric, manager of Southampton, feels Liverpool should have been given a penalty in the second half of their 3-1 loss at Anfield on Saturday. Will Smallbone gave the Saints an unexpected lead in stoppage time of the first half, but Darin Nunez quickly erased the lead. Mo Salah scored two penalty penalties in the second half to give Liverpool the victory, but Juric thought the first one was unfair. There didn't appear to be much in the area as Smallbone and Nunez collided, but referee Lewis Smith gave the penalty. Juric, the Southampton manager, is furious at Liverpool's penalty call. "They responded quite well," Juric said to BBC Sport. "We had some excellent first-half situations. The match was altered, in my opinion, by the [first] penalty, which was not a penalty. I'm happy with the way we performed today. "This can never be a punishment. Since it was 1-1 and somewhat altered the outcome, I apologize for what happened. Many of our yo...
He kept them from being hammered. "If we got a draw, we would have been lucky," Arne Slot admitted. Luis Enrique lamented that "football is often a game of injustices". "We were very superior," he stated. If Liverpool were hugely unfortunate to have to face Paris Saint-Germain having finished first in the group stage, there was instant karma. They were equally fortunate not to have lost the tie by the half-hour mark.
PSG were worth much more than this 0-1 and appeared to be a far better value than the expensive and indulgent side that has previously characterized this Qatari sportswashing project. It was striking how their attack made a recently revitalized Liverpool seem so pedestrian. The final score does not change that. You could see why Arne Slot had already planned to change his entire forward line in the summer. The Premier League's top scorers, by a massive 13 goals, could not match PSG's ferocity. At the very least, it adds sparkle and energy.
But not for goals.
The crucial fact is that Liverpool scored while PSG did not, though this was due to Alisson's brilliance and blind luck rather than anything else. It really could have been 4-0 by then. Liverpool had two major decisions go their way, with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's heel offside for his finish and Ibrahima Konate's challenge not deserving a red card amidst a flurry of huge opportunities.
However, the final result did have some logic. As impressive as PSG had been, and as disappointing as Liverpool had been, Slot provided a decisive change even before Elliott's substitution.
Liverpool dramatically retreated and dug in. Slot noticed how much space PSG was gaining and admitted that he changed his team's pressing. Around the half-hour mark, there was significantly less space behind Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold, as well as between Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, and Bradley Barcola were no longer sharing the same space. They weren't making the same openings. Crucially, they appeared to be very frustrated at not having scored. They lacked the deeper experience.
Liverpool didn't have much to offer, but that was the point. It was pragmatism on a level we had not seen before from Slot.
And it paid off. Just about.
They still needed Alisson to deliver one of his best performances for the club. He described it as one of the best of his life. Some of the stops, particularly those from repeated Kvaratshkelia efforts, were simply brilliant.
And it paid off. Just about.
They still needed Alisson to deliver one of his best performances for the club. He described it as one of the best of his life. Some of the stops, particularly those from repeated Kvaratshkelia efforts, were simply brilliant.
Not only did he get to the ball, but he also palmed it away with such force to avoid danger. Many Premier League competitors could take note.
Slot will have also taken notes. Liverpool understands that the work is far from finished, and they will need to be prepared for a tough night in the second leg.
PSG were dominating Liverpool in almost every area, particularly on the flanks and in midfield.
Out wide, there were numerous instances when PSG realized they could simply loft the ball over the heads of Robertson or Alexander-Arnold, confident that Dembele or Barcola - or even Achraf Hakimi or Nuno Mendes - would outsprint them.
It was even worse in the middle of the field. Liverpool looked like a Premier League side from the 1990s, as they were simply outpaced.
At least until the half hour. Until then, PSG appeared to be much more forceful and fearsome than the recent star projects, and this is undoubtedly due to having a more humble squad of players who also suit the manager's style.
Kvaratskhelia's languid style appears to be from another era, but it conceals a devastating turn of speed that allows him to produce passes and shots that no one else can see. That distinct style ironically cost him in the most unfortunate way, as the distinctive way he moves his heel resulted in an offside call at the same time as he curled a divine shot into the corner.
PSG were dominating Liverpool in almost every area, particularly on the flanks and in midfield.
Out wide, there were numerous instances when PSG realized they could simply loft the ball over the heads of Robertson or Alexander-Arnold, confident that Dembele or Barcola - or even Achraf Hakimi or Nuno Mendes - would outsprint them.
It was even worse in the middle of the field. Liverpool looked like a Premier League side from the 1990s, as they were simply outpaced.
At least until the half hour. Until then, PSG appeared to be much more forceful and fearsome than the recent star projects, and this is undoubtedly due to having a more humble squad of players who also suit the manager's style.
Kvaratskhelia's languid style appears to be from another era, but it conceals a devastating turn of speed that allows him to produce passes and shots that no one else can see. That distinct style ironically cost him in the most unfortunate way, as the distinctive way he moves his heel resulted in an offside call at the same time as he curled a divine shot into the corner.
He runs games while constantly moving, which is appropriate given the blur of movement all around him. Dembele has finally started to look like he is worth €148 million. Barcola is one of Europe's most exciting young players, but both Kvaratskhelia and Barcola were pulled off before Liverpool scored.
Slot had already cut the midfield. It was a true masterstroke, even if it didn't appear so for a long time. The introduction of Elliott was then the finishing touch.
PSG had repeatedly appeared fragile in that area. It was simply a matter of finding the right moment.
PSG will now have to find a lot more for the second leg. They appear to be capable of running.
Following the game, Slot stated that "all the underlying stats show you they were the best team in Europe until now" and that PSG can take "a lot of positives" from the night. Luis Enrique stated that they will approach Liverpool the same way.
But can they share the same belief?
Results like this will undermine that. They appeared to be losing confidence as they went longer and longer without scoring. They were more hurried. That isn't the same as the old PSG, but it is one of football's old truths. This is the flip side of youth, when inexperience or a lack of foresight can be costly. Even before this game, there was a feeling within the club that, as good as Luis Enrique's team has been, it is still "a season too early".
You could see why from how the game went. Slot, meanwhile, noticed something that few others did. PSG simply kept seeing Alisson's hands.
They did most of the grabbing, but Elliott smashed it.
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