The Liverpool Fringe Players Poised for Key Roles in Treble Pursuit

Like everyone else who watched the game, Luis Enrique was left baffled by Paris Saint-Germain’s defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday. As the Spaniard put it, the result was "a bit weird." The dominant hosts registered 27 shots on goal, while their outplayed opponents managed just two. Yet, it was Liverpool who walked away from Parc des Princes with a 1-0 advantage heading into next week’s second leg at Anfield.

Alisson Becker was the undisputed Player of the Match, producing a stunning nine-save performance, with several stops bordering on the miraculous. "Their goalkeeper was exceptional," Luis Enrique admitted. "Alisson decided the outcome of the game. Liverpool have never played like this all season, and it wasn’t by choice—it was because we forced them to. We were much superior."

Not in every aspect, though. While Liverpool were ruthlessly efficient and PSG wasteful in front of goal, the biggest difference between the two sides came from the impact of their substitutes.

While Désiré Doué wasted no time in testing Alisson from distance, Gonçalo Ramos and Warren Zaïre-Emery struggled to make an impact. In contrast, Liverpool’s substitutes made all the difference. Darwin Núñez, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, and Wataru Endō all influenced the game, with Núñez and Elliott linking up to produce the decisive goal. Their contributions highlighted just how crucial Liverpool’s bench could be in their pursuit of a historic treble.

Wataru Endo

Jürgen Klopp was a huge admirer of Wataru Endō, famously calling him a "machine" after Liverpool's 2024 Carabao Cup triumph over Chelsea and backing him for a long stay at Anfield. However, his successor, Arne Slot, appeared less convinced—at least initially. Endō managed just three minutes of Premier League action in the first two and a half months of the season.

Though he has yet to make a league start under Slot, the 32-year-old has gradually earned the Dutchman's trust, becoming Liverpool’s go-to 'closer'—the player relied upon to help see out games.

That role was evident once again in Paris. Introduced for the final 11 minutes, Endō didn’t misplace a single pass and brought an intensity to Liverpool’s pressing that had been lacking before his arrival.

While he may not fully fit Slot’s vision for a No.6, the Japanese international’s reliability could see him feature more frequently—especially given Ryan Gravenberch’s struggles in Paris. In fact, Endō could be in line for his first Premier League start of the season when Liverpool host Southampton at Anfield on Saturday.

Harvey Elliott

Despite making a significant impact off the bench during Jürgen Klopp's final season, Harvey Elliott was adamant that he didn’t want to be labeled a "super-sub." At 21, he craved more regular game time—and during pre-season, he got plenty under Arne Slot. Elliott seemed a perfect fit for the No.10 role in Slot’s preferred system.

However, when the season began, he remained behind Dominik Szoboszlai in the pecking order. Then, disaster struck—a fractured foot sidelined him, leaving him, like Wataru Endō, still waiting for his first Premier League start of the campaign.

The good news? Elliott hasn’t let his frustration affect him negatively. When his opportunity came in Paris, he seized it, scoring just 46 seconds after coming on—a continuation of his impressive form, having now netted in three consecutive Champions League games.

"A big moment for him," Slot said at Parc des Princes. "I understand his frustration over playing time because he’s a good player, but he’s competing with guys I rarely take off."

With rotation inevitable in the season's final stretch, Elliott may still have to embrace the "super-sub" role—but only for a little while longer.

Darwin Nunez

Unfortunately for Darwin Núñez and Liverpool, this season has made it abundantly clear that the Uruguayan isn’t quite the caliber of striker required for a club chasing major honors. While his late double at Brentford in January proved crucial, such decisive moments have been increasingly rare, and his wastefulness has cost Liverpool valuable points—most notably in the recent 2-2 draw at Aston Villa.

After that match, Arne Slot even called Núñez out for his reaction to missing an open goal, noting how his work rate dropped significantly afterward. However, to his credit, the 25-year-old vowed to keep fighting—and did just that in Paris, winning an aerial duel against Marquinhos before setting up Harvey Elliott’s match-winning goal.

That crucial assist could be a significant boost to Núñez’s confidence, which has fluctuated wildly throughout the campaign. Despite his shortcomings, his pace and strength remain undeniable assets that can trouble opposition defenses.

His time at Anfield appears destined to end this summer, but Núñez now has a golden opportunity to sign off on a high.

Kostas Tsimikas

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Kostas Tsimikas follow Darwin Núñez out of Anfield this summer. At 28, the Greece international should be playing regularly, yet there’s little indication that Liverpool see him as Andy Robertson’s long-term successor—even in the short term. In fact, all signs point to the club targeting a young, promising left-back, with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez among the names linked ahead of the off-season.

However, if this is to be Tsimikas’ final season with Liverpool, he can hold his head high. He has pushed Robertson harder than ever for a starting spot, and despite making 18 fewer starts, he has actually provided more assists than the Scotland international. With Arne Slot keen to keep his squad fresh for the run-in, there’s every chance Tsimikas and Robertson will continue to rotate in the coming weeks.

Jarell Quansah

Jarell Quansah has undoubtedly regressed this season. After finishing the previous campaign on a high—earning a spot in England’s preliminary squad for Euro 2024—expectations were that he would continue his upward trajectory under Slot.

However, Quansah was substituted at half-time in Liverpool’s season opener against Ipswich Town and has started just one game since, with a resurgent Ibrahima Konate firmly establishing himself as Virgil van Dijk’s preferred partner in central defense.

Now, though, Quansah finds himself playing a crucial role in Liverpool’s treble pursuit. With Joe Gomez’s return uncertain, he has effectively become the team’s third-choice centre-back. Additionally, he is providing cover at right-back following Conor Bradley’s untimely injury, which is expected to sideline him until after the international break.

With Southampton visiting Anfield between Liverpool’s two clashes with PSG, Quansah is now likely to start on Saturday—either at centre-back or right-back—as both Alexander-Arnold and Konate could benefit from a rest.

Federico Chiesa

It's becoming increasingly doubtful. The former Italy international signed a four-year deal when he arrived on a bargain transfer last summer and has openly expressed his love for playing at Anfield.

The issue, however, is that he has barely featured in his debut season on Merseyside. His injury history was well-documented before he joined, and given his lack of a proper pre-season—having been frozen out of Thiago Motta's Juventus squad—some adjustment time was expected.

Still, after showing glimpses of promise early in the year, it's astonishing that Chiesa has been completely sidelined during this hectic phase of the campaign. With Cody Gakpo injured, many assumed he would be an ideal substitute for Luis Díaz or Mohamed Salah in Paris—yet he remained an unused option once again.

That said, Chiesa still has opportunities to make an impact, starting with Southampton on Saturday. If Liverpool edge past PSG, they will have several winnable league games between their European fixtures, and a fully fit Chiesa could prove valuable as Arne Slot looks to rotate his attacking options.

At the very least, Salah could benefit from some rest to sustain his excellent form into the business end of the season. As seen at Parc des Princes, Liverpool's squad depth will be crucial if they hope to finish this campaign on a triumphant note.