India’s Unstoppable Run Continues: Sreesanth and Rajput Hail Team’s Dominance

Liverpool are dynamic. They adapt with ease. They press high, drop deep, then strike with the precision of fighter jets. Perhaps Luis Enrique was right before kickoff when he called them “a perfect team.” But even the best sides sometimes just need an outstanding goalkeeper.

Alisson wasn’t just good in the conventional sense—charging around his box like a towering, yellow-clad blur, making game-saving stops and desperate lunges. He was more than that. As Liverpool clung on at times, he was magnificent, turning goalkeeping into an art form, a form of counter-aggression. You think you’re going to win? How much do you really believe that?

Liverpool’s 1-0 victory in Paris will attract the usual labels, many tinged with a sense of mischief: a heist, a smash-and-grab, a textbook away-leg robbery. But ultimately, it came down to having an elite player in the most crucial position. Not just a good goalkeeper, but a defining presence in this team—a player who seemed to sense from the outset that this was his night, an Alisson night.

The decisive moment on the surface was the match-winning goal, clinically finished by Harvey Elliott with three minutes left. But the real turning point came seven minutes earlier—an Alisson moment, the most spectacular of his eight saves.

Désiré Doué had only been on the pitch a few minutes when he took possession on the left, cut inside, and curled a shot destined for the far corner. The net was set to bulge. The story of PSG’s relentless pressure was about to be confirmed. But then, as if out of nowhere, that unmistakable yellow figure reappeared, flinging himself across the goal, hanging improbably in mid-air, thrusting out a hand and palming the ball over the bar.

That was PSG’s 26th shot of the night. Liverpool, in contrast, scored with just their second. And, fittingly, even their goal stemmed from an Alisson intervention—his long, arcing pass launching one of Arne Slot’s late substitutes, Darwin Núñez, into action.

Núñez, full of energy, took control, shrugging off Marquinhos before picking out Elliott’s run with a perfectly weighted pass. As Elliott shaped to strike, you could almost see the geometry aligning—his body opening up just right, the ball sent skimming into the far corner, low and firm enough to beat Gianluigi Donnarumma’s outstretched hand.

And just like that, the atmosphere inside the stadium drained away. A game PSG had been dominating, manipulating space, dictating tempo, and twisting Liverpool’s defense into uncomfortable positions, was suddenly gone—vanishing like a puff of smoke.

Football is defined by outcomes. Entire narratives of triumph and failure hinge on tiny, unpredictable details that could have played out differently in another timeline. That’s the beauty of it—the reason the debate never ends, the reason no amount of money, data, or forensic analysis can ever fully tame the game.

It’s a sport of infinite human variables. And sometimes, the simplest truth is that you just need a great goalkeeper—the one piece that makes all the others fall into place.

Paris had basked in golden spring sunlight all day, even the harsh concrete edges of the Parc des Princes softened by its glow. Both managers were out early on the touchline—Luis Enrique in a hoodie and flowing urban cape, resembling a retired world champion skateboarder.

His team set the tone early. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, starting on the right, was electric. For the first hour, Liverpool struggled to contain him. The Georgian, in just his ninth appearance since a high-profile January move from Napoli, repeatedly sliced open their defense with ease.

This is the new PSG, moving beyond their old superstar-laden era. But they still have the financial muscle to spend over €50 million on a statement winter signing. With Vitinha and João Neves controlling the midfield, Kvaratskhelia ran the show—a player who bends the game to his will, able to halt instantly on the ball like a squirrel clinging to a branch, perfectly balanced while chaos unfolds around him.

PSG could have scored three in that opening half, with Kvaratskhelia a relentless nuisance—socks rolled down, shorts high, hair disheveled in classic maverick style, darting left and right with an explosive twitch of movement.

The second half was a different story. Liverpool dug in, ready to fight. And Alisson rose to the occasion, a player locked in one of those rare states of invincibility. This was his night, and a defining moment in Liverpool’s season.

New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner believes his team has successfully achieved their initial goal in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and is now focused on maintaining their approach as they push for a spot in the final.

“Our first objective was to reach the semi-finals,” Santner told reporters ahead of Wednesday’s clash against South Africa in Lahore. “We prepared well and have played some strong cricket, so I don’t see any need for major changes.”

Acknowledging the strength of their opponents, he added, “South Africa is a formidable team. They’ve been in great form, as they usually are in major tournaments. We know it’s going to be a tough challenge, but we’re confident in our approach.”

Discussing the pitch conditions in Lahore, Santner anticipates more pace and bounce, which could favor the fast bowlers. However, he suggested that New Zealand is unlikely to make significant alterations to their lineup but remains prepared to adjust if needed.

“We’ll assess the pitch, but I expect it to be a good surface for cricket,” he noted.

New Zealand kicked off their campaign with a commanding win over Pakistan before easing past Bangladesh to secure their place in the semi-finals. They finished second in their group behind India, while South Africa topped Group B with five points.

Santner emphasized that his team is prepared to face any type of bowling attack, whether it be pace or spin. Lahore’s conditions are expected to favor seamers more than Dubai, where spin played a larger role.

“Our squad is well-rounded, just like theirs. They’ve been relying on a four-seamer attack lately, and Lahore’s conditions might suit that strategy,” he explained. “Keshav Maharaj has been outstanding for a long time, Shamsi is in their ranks, and Markram can contribute with the ball as well. They have a well-balanced attack, but if the pitch offers less turn than in Dubai, that could work in our batters' favor.”