As Wednesday's heist at Parc des Princes proved, the Reds' reserves could be decisive in the closing stages of the campaign
Just like everyone else who watched the game, Luis Enrique was at a loss to explain how Paris Saint-Germain lost to Liverpool on Wednesday. It was, as the Spaniard said, "a bit weird". The rampant hosts had 27 shots on goal, their overwhelmed opponents only two. And yet it was Liverpool who left Parc des Princes with a 1-0 lead to take into next week's second leg at Anfield.
Alisson Becker was obviously the Player of the Match, with the Brazilian making a remarkable nine saves, some of which were absolutely sensational. "Their goalkeeper was exceptional," Luis Enrique told reporters. "Alisson decided which way the game went. Liverpool have never played like this all season, and it's not because they chose to. It's because we made them. We were much superior."
Not in absolutely every way, though. For starters, Liverpool were as clinical as PSG were profligate. However, of even greater significance was the difference made by the two sides' substitutes.
While Desire Doue quickly got in on the act of trying to beat Alisson from distance, Goncalo Ramos and Warren Zaire-Emery didn't really make much of an impact. However, Darwin Nunez, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones and Wataru Endo all made their presence felt – with the first two combining for the game's only goal – and their contributions underlined that Liverpool's bench will have a key role to play in their treble bid…
Getty Images SportWataru Endo
Jurgen Klopp absolutely adored Wataru Endo, whom he labelled a "machine" after the 2024 Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea before tipping the Japan international for an extended stay on Merseyside. However, Klopp's successor, Arne Slot, didn't seem quite so enamoured with Endo – at least not initially. The 32-year-old saw just three minutes of Premier League action during the first two-and-a-half months of the season.
He's still waiting for his first top-flight start under Slot but, over the past couple of months, Endo has gained the Dutchman's trust, effectively becoming Liverpool's 'closer', the man regularly tasked with helping his side see out games.
He was at it again in Paris. After being brought on for the final 11 minutes of normal time, Endo didn't misplace a single pass and applied the kind of pressure to PSG's players that had been conspicuous by its absence before his introduction.
He clearly doesn't have all the qualities Slot wants from his No.6, but given just how poorly the overused Ryan Gravenberch performed in Paris, Endo is likely to be called on far more regularly over the next month or so. Indeed, he may even make his first Premier League start of the season in Saturday's meeting with Southampton at Anfield.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportHarvey Elliott
Despite repeatedly making a massive impact off the bench during Klopp's final season in charge, Harvey Elliott made it very clear that he didn't want to be known solely as a "super-sub". At 21 years of age, he wanted more regular game time – and, during pre-season, he got plenty under Slot. Elliott appeared to have the ideal skillset for the No.10 role within the former Feyenoord coach's preferred formation.
However, when the campaign kicked-off, he still found himself behind Dominik Szoboszlai in the pecking order before disaster struck, as Elliott was sidelined by a fractured foot. The net result is that the Englishman is, just like Endo, still waiting for his first Premier League start of the season.
The good news, though, is that Elliott hasn't let his understandable sense of frustration affect him negatively, and when his chance came in Paris, he took it, just 46 seconds after coming off the bench, meaning he's now scored in his last three Champions League games.
"A big moment for him," Slot said at Parc des Princes. "I can understand that he is sometimes annoyed by the playing time he gets because he is a good player, but he is in competition for players that I hardly take off."
Rotation will be required between now and the end of the season, though, and, luckily for Liverpool, Elliott remains willing to play the role of super-sub – for a few more months, at least…
AFPDarwin Nunez
Unfortunately for Darwin Nunez and Liverpool, this season has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Uruguayan isn't good enough to be the starting striker at a club challenging for major honours. The Reds may have been indebted to Nunez's late double for their vital victory at Brentford in January, but such decisive displays have become increasingly rare, and his profligacy has repeatedly cost his team precious points, most notably in the recent 2-2 draw at Aston Villa.
After the latter fixture, Slot even called Nunez out for the way in which he reacted to missing an open goal shortly after coming on, with the 25-year-old's work-rate dipping dramatically thereafter. However, credit where it's due, Nunez vowed to keep fighting for the cause and did precisely that in Paris, winning an aerial battle with Marquinhos before teeing up Elliott for the winner.
The crucial assist should do wonders for Nunez and his wildly fluctuating confidence levels, meaning there's now a chance that could play an important role in the run-in. Despite his obvious deficiencies, Nunez undeniably has the pace and strength to cause opponents problems.
His time at Anfield will almost inevitably come to a close this summer, but Nunez now has the chance to bow out on a positive note.
Getty Images SportKostas Tsimikas
It would not be a shock to see Kostas Tsimikas follow Nunez out of Anfield this summer. The 28-year-old Greece international should be starting regularly at this stage of his career, and there's not much evidence to suggest that he's viewed as Andy Robertson's successor – even on a short-term basis. On the contrary, everything presently points to Liverpool signing a promising young left-back like Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez during the off-season.
However, if this is to be Tsimikas' final year with the Reds, he can be proud of his efforts. He's put Robertson under more pressure for his starting spot than ever before – the 2020 signing from Olympiacos has actually provided more assists than the Scot despite starting 18 fewer games – and there's a very real chance that the pair could be rotated regularly between now and the end of the season as Slot looks to keep the energy levels up in defence.
