Reds edge it atanfield
● Dominant Reds squander a two-goal lead but substitute gives them victory as PSG’S mega-stars fail to shine at Anfield
Daniel Sturridge, right, celebrates his opening goal in Liverpool’s 3-2 Champions League win over Paris Saint-germain with Scotland’s Andrew Robertson, who provided the cross.
Substitute Roberto Firmino drilled home an added-time winner as Liverpool won an enthralling Champions League opener 3-2 at home to Paris St Germain.
Last season’s beaten finalists had squandered a two-goal lead given to them by Daniel Sturridge, on his first start for the Reds in the competition, and James Milner’s penalty inside 36 minutes.
However, PSG enjoyed a stroke of luck with the absence of an offside flag in the build-up to Thomas Meunier pulling one back and, when Neymar and Kylian Mbappe combined for the latter to score seven minutes from time, it appeared the damage had been done.
However, Firmino – left out of the starting line-up with an eye injury sustained in Saturday’s win at Tottenham – struck in the second minute of added time as Jurgen Klopp’s side began another European adventure in dramatic style.
Liverpool took the lead after 30 minutes when Sturridge pounced on his first chance to power a close-range header past Alphonse Areola from Andrew Robertson’s superb cross.
Trent Alexander-arnold’s far-post cross was too high for Mane but was returned by Robertson and Sturridge’s predatory instincts kicked in and he nodded past the PSG keeper.
Six minutes later, the red tide rose again and, when Georginio Wijnaldum was brought down by Juan Bernat, Milner, pictured, drilled an unstoppable penalty inside Areola’s left-hand post despite the goalkeeper going the right way.
At this point the primary danger appeared to be Liverpool getting swept away by the euphoria and not managing the game properly.
But it was two strokes of luck which allowed PSG to pull one back just before half-time.
Edinson Cavani, starting in an offside position, attempted an overhead kick from Angel di Maria’s cross and, while he did not connect, it caused enough confusion in Liverpool’s penalty area for the ball to bounce off Robertson for Meunier to volley home.
Just before the hour, Mohamed Salah had a closerange effort ruled out for a lunge on the goalkeeper by Sturridge, who moments later had a weak downward header easily saved. Sturridge eventually made way for Firmino as Liverpool kept the intensity up but one loose pass by Salah undid all their hard work. Seven minutes from time, the Egypt international’s square ball was picked up by Neymar, who drove at the heart of the defence before passing for Mbappe to score.
Alexander-arnold had a free-kick deflected behind as Liverpool strove to repair the damage, but that task was left to Firmino at the death.