Virgil Van Digk believes that the Champions League in Liverpool is suffering from Paris Saint-Germain’s hands not yet ended despite a survival of an attack on winning the first stage of the last 16 bundles for them 1-0 in the French capital. The RDS team was almost the entire match in Parc Des Princes on Wednesday, but grabbed what Alisson Becker’s goalkeeper described as “his life”. Harvey Elliot came out of the bench to score the winner with his first touch in 87 minutes. Liverpool was only two shots, compared to PSG 27 attempts in the goal.
This was the first defeat in the Paris team in 23 games, extending to November.
Liverpool expects to be much stronger in the second stage of Anfield on Tuesday, but Van Dyck warned that the draw has not yet ended.
“It should be a great game and we must be ready to suffer because they are a very good team that has not been defeated for a very long time,” said Liverpool captain.
“What I really liked is teamwork, as everyone has turned and we know that everyone could be better.”
Liverpool coach Arni Slot admitted that his side was lucky even to escape a draw.
Van Dijk agreed that the Backs-To-The-Wall offer is not how the Premier League leaders are getting used to winning but praised the “global-level” opposition they faced.
“We do not want to play this way because everyone who plays football wants to be a lot of the ball and wants to dominate the opponents,” he said.
“But we played against a great quality team, global quality, and they made it very difficult for everyone in the world so far and made it difficult for us, but we found a way and we have to try to finish it next week.”
The alternatives of the opening have made an old contribution as Darwin Nunez created the winner of Elliot, while Cortis Jones and Wataro Endo helped get rid of the PSG threat.
“We come to the last stages of the season and the message is completely clear – everyone who is part of the team must play a role when it comes,” said Van Dick.
“With Darwin’s goal, it makes it difficult for Marquinhos and The Ball Falls and gives a good pass to Harvey to the end.
“Even Wattaru is coming, Cortis does a good job to see. Everyone needs to feel this importance because there are many big games – and the next – next games until we have to continue.”
Liverpool can extend from 13 points at the top of the Premier League when Southampton visits at the bottom of the Anfield on Saturday.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by NDTV and published from a common summary.)
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