Roberto Firmino struck in injury time as Liverpool beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-2 at Anfield to get their Champions League campaign off to the perfect start.
The Brazilian came off the substitutes’ bench to fire low beyond Alphonse Areola after first-half goals from Daniel Sturridge and James Milner had been cancelled out by strikes from Thomas Meunier and Kylian Mbappe either side of the interval.
Liverpool’s win sends them to the top of Group C, with a trip to Italy to take on Napoli to come next month.
here are few better sights in football than Anfield under the lights on a big European night.
Two of the most dangerous and free-scoring sides in Europe meet on Matchday One of the Champions League, and as Thiago Silva and Jordan Henderson exchange pleasantries and pennants, we are ready for kick-off.
An early foul from Jordan Henderson, and he is perhaps lucky to escape a booking. Sadio Mane gave the ball away to Edinson Cavani who knocked it past Henderson and found his path subsequently impeded with not a whole lot of cover behind the Liverpool captain.
No yellow card produced, however.
It is a huge night for Daniel Sturridge, preferred to Roberto Firmino up front. The Brazilian looks rather comfortable on the bench.
Neymar gallivants across midfield but his ball forward is dealt with calmly by Virgil Van Djik.
Thiago Silva deflects the ball behind from a cross and Liverpool have the first corner of the night.
Edinson Cavani initially heads clear, but it is lifted back in and Liverpool get another opportunity to put a ball in…
And nearly profit! The corner is played short and worked back to taker James Milner in space. He crosses and a powerful strike is well-saved by Alphonse Areola high to his right.
A good start from Liverpool.
Another strong save. Liverpool are really pressing early on – this time it is James Milner who hits a low shot from the edge of the box, and Areola does well to get down to his left and tip it past the post.
A mazy run from Trent Alexander-Arnold, a stabbed cross – another corner.
Ey up! Mo Salah goes bare chested while shedding his undershirt, before curling a lovely ball in from the corner, with Alphonse Areola again pressed into work, tipping it over the bar.
PSG struggling to find a foothold in the game, and their superstar front-three are entirely unwilling to do any semblance of defensive work.
