“The Most Undeserved win and I loved it!” – Dave Hendrick on Liverpool’s ‘Smash-and-Grab’ Win Over PSG | OneFootball

Liverpool’s Smash-and-Grab Triumph Over PSG: A Champions League Heist for the Ages

Liverpool pulled off an outrageous 1-0 victory over PSG in the UEFA Champions League, despite being second-best for much of the match. The Anfield Index podcast, hosted by Trev Downey with guest Dave Hendrick, dissected every moment of this unlikely win. Hendrick summed it up best, describing it as “the most undeserved smash-and-grab that we’ve ever seen.”

A Tactical Battle Liverpool Almost Lost

From the opening whistle, PSG dominated. “We’ve just been battered all over the place for a full half hour,” said Hendrick, as Liverpool struggled to contain the relentless attacks of Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The Reds were hanging on by a thread, and it was only thanks to Alisson Becker that the scoreline remained level.

Hendrick highlighted a crucial moment in the first half when Liverpool earned a rare corner after being under siege for 30 minutes. He was furious at how it was wasted: “It’s a chance to put a ball into their box… Instead, it’s the dumbest and worst executed short corner routine that I’ve ever seen.” The frustration was evident as Liverpool struggled to string passes together while PSG continued to pile on the pressure.

Alisson Becker: The Best in the World

If Liverpool had any chance of leaving Paris with a result, it was down to one man: Alisson Becker. His performance was described as “otherworldly” by Hendrick, who declared, “Allison Becker is the best in the world. Please let your apologies be as loud as your disrespect was.”

The Brazilian produced a series of stunning saves in both halves, including a full-stretch stop from Kvaratskhelia on 56 minutes that Hendrick called “outrageous.” PSG’s relentless attacking trio couldn’t find a way past him, and his saves kept Liverpool alive long enough for the ultimate sucker punch.

Photo: IMAGO

Darwin and Elliott Combine for the Winner

Despite barely touching the ball after coming on as a substitute, Harvey Elliott scored the only goal of the game in the 86th minute. The move started with a long clearance from Alisson—his pre-assist, as Hendrick put it. Darwin Núñez battled for the ball against Marquinhos, showed remarkable composure, and played a perfectly weighted pass to Elliott, who coolly finished past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Hendrick admitted he let out some “high-pitched, strangled sounding” noises when the goal went in. He added, “That was the most undeserved smash-and-grab we’ve ever seen… and I love it.”

Photo: IMAGO

Anfield Awaits: The Second Leg

Liverpool’s win puts them in a strong position heading into the second leg at Anfield. As Hendrick pointed out, “Anfield is much smaller than the Parc des Princes, and the crowd is going to make a difference.” PSG will have to overcome both Liverpool’s defensive resilience and the atmosphere of a stadium where magical European nights are the norm.

While Liverpool rode their luck in Paris, Hendrick sees this as a turning point: “We can’t play worse than that, and we still won. That should worry PSG.”

With Alisson in goal, Darwin finding form, and Elliott stepping up, Liverpool might just be on their way to another deep Champions League run.