Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 Liverpool: 5 Talking Points and Tactical Analysis | UCL 2018/19

Paris Saint-Germain registered a hard-fought 2-1 win over Liverpool at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League as they kept their hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the competition alive in Group C. The hosts started the game brightly and took the lead as early as the 13th minute through Juan Bernat, who has now scored in back-to-back Champions League games this season.

Bernat took advantage of a situation that was presented to him after Virgil van Dijk failed to get enough connection on a clearance as the ball fell kindly towards his path and he tucked it away with relative ease. The home supporters welcomed the early lead by raising the decibel levels and PSG continued to show flashes of brilliance through Kylian Mbappe and Neymar.

The pair of them worked in tandem for PSG's second goal of the night after Neymar sent Mbappe bursting down the left flank for the Frenchman to cut back a low cross into the center for Edinson Cavani, who was denied by a fine block from Alisson Becker. However, the rebound off Alisson rolled perfectly into the path of the onrushing Neymar, who made no mistake from six yards out to double his team's lead in the 37th minute.

Jurgen Klopp's men were handed a lifeline during first half stoppage time when Sadio Mane was brought down by a poor challenge from Angel Di Maria that resulted in a stonewall penalty to the visitors. James Milner stepped up and sent Gianluigi Buffon the wrong way while converting the penalty to breathe more life into the game ahead of the half-time interval.

Liverpool picked up the tempo in the second half and had several chances to restore parity, but Buffon was hardly tested as the visitors failed to hit the target on a number of instances. Despite dominating possession and outnumbering the PSG defenders more than once in the second half, Liverpool were unable to salvage something from the game and will now have to win against Napoli at Anfield next month if they are to qualify for the knockout stages.

On that note, let's take a closer look at all the major talking points from the riveting clash at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League:

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#1 High-octane start pay in dividends for PSG

Bernat deservedly put PSG ahead in the 13th minute

Paris Saint-Germain meant business right from the start and were rightfully rewarded for their high-octane start when Juan Bernat opened the scoring for the hosts in the 13th minute. You could sense the goal was coming, especially considering the fearless approach PSG adopted right from the referee's whistle to kick-start proceedings.

Marco Verratti set the tone for the hosts' imperious start to the game when he produced a lovely dink over Virgil van Dijk for Edinson Cavani, but the striker failed to control the ball with just Alisson Becker to beat as the ball petered away from him. Verratti continued to pull the strings in midfield and initiated the move that eventually resulted in Bernat's goal on the night.

The goal proved to be the perfect testament to PSG's attacking onslaught early on as they thoroughly dominated proceedings with the likes of Neymar, Mbappe and Verratti ticking the right boxes. Furthermore, the raucous atmosphere generated by the home fans also played a huge part in rallying the players, who were in desperate need of a result to boost their credentials in the competition.

#2 Same old wine served in a new bottle for Liverpool on their travels

Liverpool are yet to win a Champions League game away from home this season

Perhaps the performance was not as poor as during the away games against Napoli and Red Star Belgrade, but it is safe to say that Liverpool would not have wanted to come away with nothing in the end. The Reds have struggled on their travels in Europe so far this season and might consider themselves lucky enough to be entertaining Napoli at home next month in their crucial and final Champions League Group C clash.

Jurgen Klopp's men can take heart from their second half performance although they must be really worried about their toothless nature in attack that did not pose any real challenge whatsoever to Gianluigi Buffon in the opposition goal.

This is the first time in their history in Europe that Liverpool have lost all three of their away games in the group stage of the Champions League and it could well even cost them dearly, especially considering the fact that Napoli are yet to taste defeat in the competition so far this season.

#3 Tuchel stirs the ultimate recipe from the touchline

Tuchel outwitted Klopp during the battle from the touchline in the end

Prior to the game, Thomas Tuchel had commented that his team will have to do it the hard way by facing one of the greatest teams in Europe in the form of Liverpool. And that is exactly what they did as the German outwitted Jurgen Klopp from the touchline by scripting a memorable victory in a big European night for the Ligue 1 champions.

Tuchel's tactics had come under criticism following PSG's defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in the reverse fixture back in September, but he more than made up for it by stirring his players on from the touchline. The German opted for a 4-4-2 formation against Liverpool with Angel Di Maria and Neymar on the flanks while Marco Verratti and Marquinhos sat in front of the back-four.

Neymar and Kylian Mbappe continually bypassed a hapless Liverpool midfield in the first half as they hit cruise control and Verratti's imperious presence in midfield helped the hosts replicate the kind of football they are usually associated with in Ligue 1, where they have won all 14 of their league games so far this season while also winning five of the last six league titles.

The unsettling news of a clash between Tuchel and Adrien Rabiot, who had to settle for a place on the bench and was only introduced in the dying embers of the game, had emerged before kick-off, but the German tactician had everything in control and guided his team to a memorable win.

#4 Samba delight in Parisian territory

Silva and Marquinhos helped PSG hold on to their lead

Paris Saint-Germain wasted no time in establishing an upper hand on the game in the early stages of the riveting encounter with Liverpool at the Parc des Princes. The Parisians were determined and backed by a vociferous home crowd, who knew it was about time they came out on top during big European nights if they are to be considered as one of the elites in the competition.

However, the second half tilted the momentum in Liverpool's favour as they came out all guns blazing to force PSG on the back foot time and again. Despite being consistently outnumbered in defence, the hosts were helped by the unity between Thiago Silva and Marquinhos, that stood out throughout the entirety of the second half.

The Brazilian pair proved to be a threat from set-pieces too as Silva forced Alisson into a fine close-range save, although he was incorrectly flagged offside, early on in the game, while Marquinhos had a goal disallowed for offside shortly after the restart.

Furthermore, the stand-out moment for the duo came towards the end of the game when they collectively nullified Mohamed Salah, who was sprinting on goal, and reacted to the interception with a roaring chest-bump. The emotions were raw and visible for everyone to see as the Selecao's finest performers put on a show in Parisian territory.

#5 All to play for in Group C as teams continue to trade blows

Napoli knocked Red Star Belgrade out of the competition with a win

The finale in Group C of the UEFA Champions League is set to go down the wire following Paris Saint-Germain's win over Liverpool on Wednesday. Napoli came away with a 3-1 win at home against Red Star Belgrade to end their hopes of making it to the knockout stages after what has been a memorable European campaign.

Due to its sheer unpredictable nature, Group C is the only pool in which nothing has been decided heading into the final matchday next month. Napoli are leading the race with nine points at this point in time while PSG moved to second with eight points after their win over Liverpool, who are just two points behind the Ligue 1 champions.

Red Star have four points and are still mathematically in contention for a Europa League place if they pull off the herculean task of beating PSG in their final game and Liverpool fall short against Napoli at home next month. However, all eyes will be on Anfield when Napoli visit the Kop for a big European night that could have serious repercussions in terms of qualification from Group C.

Liverpool need to win 1-0 or by a two-goal margin if they are to book their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League and although it may seem like how they always like it - against the odds in a big European night, backed by the raucous Kop - it might not be how they would have wanted it in the end.