Kicked this off by thinking about European football rivalries. Liverpool and PSG popped into my head because of that wild 3-2 game at Anfield years ago. Grabbed my laptop around midnight, pajamas still on, muttering to myself “Let’s settle this once and for all.”
Step 1: Tracking Down Match Records
First thing I did was rummage through official UEFA archives online. Big mistake – kept hitting paywalls and confusing tournament brackets. Switched to simpler football stats sites instead. Had paper and pen ready like a caveman, scribbling dates and scores starting from their first clash in 1997.
Step 2: Manual Data Sorting Nightmare
Ended up with messy notes like:
- September 2018: Liverpool 3 – PSG 2 (Mane last-minute winner!)
- November 2018: PSG 2 – Liverpool 1 (Neymar dive still annoys me)
- September 2019: PSG 2 – Liverpool 3 (that Firmino flick!)
Cross-referenced three different sources because some had conflicting attendance numbers. Nearly threw my coffee cup when one site listed a match as “Paris FC” instead of PSG – took 20 minutes to verify.
Step 3: Crunching Raw Numbers
Made a ratty-looking spreadsheet on Google Sheets:
- Total matches: 6 competitive meetings since records began
- Liverpool wins: 3
- PSG wins: 2
- Draws: 1
- Goals scored: LFC 10 – 7 PSG
Mind blown realizing they’ve only met in group stages – zero knockout drama.
Step 4: Pattern Hunting Like Detective
Home advantage? Liverpool won both Anfield games. PSG’s home win came at empty Parc des Princes during COVID. Also noticed Salah scored in 50% of their matchups – Egyptian king owns them.
Final Reveal Surprise
Went in expecting PSG dominance because of their superstars. Stats screamed otherwise – Liverpool controls the narrative every time they meet. But that 1-1 draw in 2019? Both teams bottled it that night. Clear winner stats-wise is Liverpool, though that Mbappe equalizer last meeting still haunts me.
Finished at 3 AM with browser full of tabs, sticky notes everywhere, and that familiar “why do I do this to myself?” feeling. Worth it though.
