'Scenes of manic joy' - the press on Liverpool 3-2 PSG

Roberto Firmino scored a stunning stoppage-time winner as the Reds produced another European display to remember in front of the Kop.

Read on for what the media made of the dramatic encounter...

James Pearce, Liverpool Echo

Liverpool are on the march once again. The road to Madrid promises to be some ride. That cherished collection of unforgettable European nights at Anfield has a new addition after a thrilling last-gasp victory over Paris Saint-Germain. Considering the calibre of the opposition, this was as good as anything Jurgen Klopp's side served up en route to the Champions League final in Kiev in May. The Reds left it late to secure maximum points as substitute Roberto Firmino rammed home the winner in stoppage time to spark scenes of manic joy. But it would have been a travesty if Liverpool had taken anything less from a breathtaking heavyweight contest with the French champions. Some wondered how Klopp's men would handle the increased expectation levels having been the surprise package among Europe's elite last season. The answer here was emphatic. They played with a swagger and a burning desire which a star-studded side – bankrolled by the petrodollars of Qatar – simply couldn't live with.

There were so many commanding performances in the Reds' Group C opener. James Milner, not content with beating Neymar's assists record in the competition last term, proceeded to out-shine the world's most expensive player on the big stage. The Brazilian will be seeing Milner in his nightmares. Klopp got his selection spot on. Liverpool's midfield bossed proceedings with captain Jordan Henderson excelling on his return to the side and Gini Wijnaldum equally impressive. Defensively, Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold did a magnificent job in stifling PSG's array of firepower. At the other end, fears that the Reds would be wounded by the fact that Firmino was only fit enough for bench duty were eased by a resurgent Daniel Sturridge grasping his chance to shine. To his credit, he worked his socks off to force his way back into Klopp's plans. He looks lean, strong and hungry. His touch and his movement was slick, and he marked his first Champions League start for the club with the opener in front of the Kop. The Kop paid homage to the outstanding Robertson after his lung-bursting dash to stop Meunier from breaking clear. World Cup winner Mbappe also got no change out of the Scotland captain.

Melissa Reddy, Joe.co.uk

When the teams emerged from the tunnel for their first Champions League group game and he settled into the technical area, [Thomas] Tuchel was greeted by a more familiar backdrop: thundering, tormenting - the type that ushers in a high tide, the type which can govern a game. That PSG, without the suspended Marco Verratti, had a false sense of security before kick-off was somewhat poetic. When Kylian Mbappe scored to make it 2-2 on 83 minutes, sliding on his knees with his arms folded in front of the Kop, the French champions believed it was job done: a point secured against the choreography of the encounter. Tuchel, though, became more animated as the clock ticked over and the scores were tied. “We can never feel like we have a moment of calmness and quietness here,” he had warned on Monday. As Mbappe was robbed by James Milner, who fed Joe Gomez, the visiting manager’s fears were inescapable. The young centre-back played the ball to his partner Virgil van Dijk and he supplied substitute Roberto Firmino. The Brazil international, who suffered an eye abrasion in the 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Saturday, shuffled inside then out onto his right foot and applied a low, angled drive past Alphonse Areola. 91 minutes. His 53rd Liverpool goal on his 150th appearance for the club. A stellar evening was owed such a crowning moment as the hosts outclassed their opponents in every facet of the fixture.

Neil Jones, Goal.com

Roberto Firmino came off the bench to fire home a last-gasp winner in a five-goal thriller as the Reds' attacking machine outscored PSG's at Anfield. Thiago Silva had billed this as the battle of the world’s two best attacks. And after 90 breathless, enthralling minutes at Anfield, we can understand what he meant. Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain didn’t disappoint as they served up a Champions League classic. First group game? This felt like a semi-final, such was the noise, such was the quality. Liverpool’s European Cup love affair left them broken-hearted in May but here, in September, they are ready to go all-in once more. One game gone, and Champions League fever is back on Merseyside, in a big way. They all say it when they visit. They all talk about the atmosphere and how it won’t affect them, how they have world class players with strong mentalities and how they’re used to intimidating places. It won’t be any different here, they say. They lie. Then came Mbappe, one chance, one goal. The kind of class you come up against in this competition. Nothing you can do about that, is there? Not unless you’re Firmino, that is. Had this game been yesterday, he would not have played. Now, with perfect timing, Klopp’s star pupil, his go-to man, arrived on the scene. "I'm ready," he told his manager. He was. Composure in a crowd, an unerring finish into the far corner, a celebration that will be copied the world over. Liverpool are on the march again.

Phil McNulty, BBC

On a typically thunderous Champions League night at Anfield, Liverpool simply carried on where they left off here last year, emphasising once more that they will be a force to be reckoned with this season - and serious contenders should they reach the knockout stage. The first 45 minutes was Liverpool's template Champions League performance. No looking back to falling short last season but looking forward to the challenge of making the final step. High-tempo, fierce intensity, toe-to-toe and oozing belief that anyone can be beaten at Anfield. Liverpool's opening salvo was reminiscent of the manner in which Manchester City and Roma were blown away at Anfield in the quarter-final and semi-final last season, relentless pressure finally telling with the reward coming in goals from Daniel Sturridge and James Milner's penalty.

And then came the test of character. PSG, unambitious and unimpressive, worked their way back to equality through Thomas Meunier's goal before half-time and Mbappe's late swoop in front of the Kop. Liverpool's inner belief and desire was tested. The answer came with a late siege on PSG's goal which brought Roberto Firmino's injury-time winner, drilled across Alphonse Areola into the bottom corner. Anfield rocked to the sound of familiar Champions League celebrations, another illustrious opponent beaten, another reminder that this Liverpool side contains an ever-present threat, even when it may seem the danger has been dampened. Liverpool's win, and the manner in which it was achieved, will have bolstered Klopp's belief that this team is maturing so rapidly that he can now fashion a threat domestically in the Premier League alongside another Champions League challenge. James Milner, at 32, is enjoying a glorious Indian summer to his superb career. The man who was utilised as an auxiliary left-back under Klopp for a couple of seasons is now an indispensable component of Liverpool's midfield. This was an opening shot that will have been noted around Europe. Liverpool have set the highest standard as a starting point.

Miguel Delaney, Independent

For Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Liverpool, an utterly priceless feeling. For Paris Saint-Germain, a lesson against the type of football and ethic that money just can’t seem to buy. That was one of many differences between these teams and clubs, as Liverpool took control of their Champions League group with a commanding – if nerve-shredding – 3-2 win. It was not just that Jurgen Klopp’s side possessed a collective focus that the French champions did not. It was the spirit and resolve that led to that late Firmino goal. That was very much the theme of the night: resilience, and resolve. As if to go with the occasion, and the opposition, Liverpool rose to it for their best spell of football of the season so far. There were moments of this up there with some of their best performances and nights from last season, not least the whirlwind that brought that 2-0 lead. This was what they subjected Manchester City and Roma to, even if the force of the gales weren’t yet as fearsome. Some of the attacking was still relentless, with that redemptive Sturridge opening goal a case in point.

Sam Wallace, Telegraph

The standard was set by James Milner, scorer of the second from the penalty spot, who landed the first decisive tackle on that firefly Neymar within seven minutes and helped exploit PSG’s left side that was left light by the Brazilian’s reluctance to go backwards. As a replacement for Firmino, the goal from Sturridge showed that he was capable of rising to the occasion again. Sadio Mane had another influential game including one penalty box shimmy that bewildered Neymar the way Neymar tends to bewilder others. This is a team that has now won all of their six games this season and you drop out of it at your peril. There was another outstanding performance from the full-backs: Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson; the latter of whom who supplied the cross for Sturridge’s goal. Thomas Tuchel, a coach who has followed the Klopp path in the Bundesliga, has been brought in to make the difference to this PSG team in Europe and, afterwards, he argued that his team had not deserved to lose. If one team deserved to lose it, however, it was most certainly not Liverpool.

This story has been reproduced from the media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.