Virgil van Dijk took a swipe at Liverpool's critics after a vital Champions League win over Ajax lifted spirits at Anfield.
Captaining Jurgen Klopp's team on Tuesday, Van Dijk saw his fellow centre-back Joel Matip head home from a corner in the 89th minute to earn three priceless points for last season's runners-up.
Mohamed Salah had earlier broken his seven-game barren streak in the competition by firing Liverpool ahead, before a fine goal from Mohammed Kudus brought Ajax level.
The atmosphere inside the stadium was electric as Matip's goal was awarded, after Dusan Tadic's attempted clearance came from behind the line.
It meant Liverpool cast aside the misery of last week's 4-1 defeat to Napoli, and Dutchman Van Dijk said it should serve to remind players-turned-pundits of the team's great strengths.
Van Dijk told BT Sport: "Coming back from the horror show in Naples, it was very important for us to show a positive reaction, and it's not easy to turn it around, but this is a step to the right direction.
"It was very important to win today and get the good feeling going into the international break."
Asked about the key to turning around the team's fortunes, Van Dijk said: "Not listening to the outside world, that's the most important thing.
"It's funny sometimes, because there's a lot of ex-football players and they know exactly what we go through. They say a lot of things to try to get us down.
"We know that last week was unacceptable, it was very bad, and we tried to make it right. This is a step to the right direction. Don't get carried away of course, because we play so many games."
Van Dijk had a team-high four goal attempts and said: "I should have scored. We felt like we were dangerous at every set-piece, especially the corners, so it was our responsibility to at least convert one, and luckily the one and only Joel Matip did it."
Matip now has 10 goals across all competitions for Liverpool, and the team have nine wins and a draw from the 10 games in which he has found the net.
"I had a few opportunities before and I was happy that I could score," said former Schalke defender Matip. "I wasn't sure [it would be awarded], to be honest, but when I saw the referee then my emotions came out.
"It was a long and tough game, we tried over 90 minutes to create chances and were pushing forward, the whole team."
Manager Jurgen Klopp enjoyed the moment, with Liverpool playing between blank weekends, their latest Premier League games having been called off amid national mourning over the death of Queen Elizabeth II and a subsequent squeeze on police resources.
"I think everyone could see we understood we had to put a completely different shift into the game," Klopp said.
"We played a lot of good stuff against a really hard-fighting and good opponent. We should have scored more goals from set-pieces especially, I don't know how these balls didn't go in."
He was more than happy for it to be Matip, rather than a striker, coming up with the late heroics.
"I'm not picky in that sense," Klopp said. "It was a nice celebration and showed everything the boys thought today. Nothing is over, negative or positive, it is a first step and a very important step for us."
Postecoglou not motivated by denting Arsenal's title hopes in north London derby
Ange Postecoglou insists Tottenham must focus on themselves heading into the north London derby with Arsenal, rather than on denting their rivals' Premier League title hopes.
With four matches remaining, the Gunners are a point clear at the summit from reigning champions Manchester City, who still have a game in hand on Mikel Arteta's side in second place.
While Arsenal look to stay very much in the hunt for a first league crown in 20 years, fifth-place Tottenham will aim to reduce their six-point deficit to fourth-place Aston Villa, on whom they have two games in hand.
Spurs are winless in the last three north London derbies - winning just one of the most recent six - though they twice came from behind to earn a point in September's reverse fixture at the Emirates Stadium.
And Postecoglou has his sights firmly set on beating his side's rivals, and says his players are not driven by the prospect of thwarting their opponents' title bid.
"Not in terms of that as a motivation," he said when asked if he would like to dent Arsenal's title hopes.
"I understand the importance of winning against your traditional rival. I never believe your motivation should revolve around the demise of somebody else.
"Your motivation should be about yourself. We can win on Sunday, but it doesn't mean we are title contenders this year. I want to win because I want us to progress. I want us to be in a position fighting for the title.
"If that's your kind of measure, always peering over the back fence to see what your neighbour's building, you could both have the worst houses in the street because everyone else is building beautiful places, and you're looking over the back fence."
Ancelotti salutes Madrid's 'commitment and desire' following Sociedad victory
Carlo Ancelotti hailed Real Madrid's commitment and desire as they edged closer to securing the LaLiga title with a 1-0 victory at Real Sociedad.
Arda Guler scored the only goal as Los Blancos extended their lead to 14 points over second-placed Barcelona, who host Valencia in their game in hand on Monday.
The 19-year-old was making his first start since arriving from Fenerbahce, as Ancelotti rotated his squad ahead of Madrid's Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich.
And the Italian was pleased by the character demonstrated by his players, who stretched their winning streak to six league matches.
"It was clear that everyone thought we were coming here for a walk," he told reporters. "The only ones who didn't think so were the players. They had commitment and attitude. They had the desire and enthusiasm to keep winning.
"We have a spectacular squad. They have this attitude that they feel like they have to win every game. There are four points left to clinch the LaLiga title, and we are very close."
Guler added on Realmadrid TV: "This is the best club in the world and scoring is one of the best feelings.
"This is Real Madrid, the quality of the players is incredible. We're all always ready to play, and I think we've shown that here. I'm waiting patiently, and I'm still working hard every day."
Ancelotti's rotation meant a first start in eight months for Eder Militao, who marked his return from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee with a clean sheet.
"I've come back to play 90 minutes and I feel like a player again after many months out," the defender said.
"We have to keep winning, we know that nothing is won yet. We have a big advantage, but we have to keep doing a serious job until the end."
Women's Champions League semi-finals finely poised
As domestic seasons draw to a close, the giants of Women's European football are due to battle it out this weekend and secure a spot in the Champions League final.
With both fixtures finely poised, Chelsea will welcome current champions Barcelona to Stamford Bridge and try to end their reign.
Lyon will travel to the Parc des Princes to face Paris Saint-Germain looking to secure their 11th appearance in the final.
They have played in the showpiece match more times than any other team in the competition and are also the most successful side in the tournament's history with eight titles overall and five consecutive crowns from 2016 to 2020, so PSG will have their work cut out.
PSG v Lyon
Lyon showed their pedigree in the first leg as they came back from 2-0 down at home to win 3-2.
Les Parisiennes spent much of the first half soaking up early pressure from their French counterparts, but in the 44th minute Marie Katoto was deadly accurate and struck from just outside the six-yard box.
Sandy Baltimore's cross found Katoto as she peeled away from Ellie Carpenter who was unaware of the danger that lurked behind her an off-balance Katoto tucked it into the bottom left-hand corner.
Paris Saint Germain started the second half as they ended the first, Katoto pouncing on a deflected shot doubled her team's lead and took her tally to seven goals in eight matches in the competition this term.
Lyon, however, were patient in their pursuit of goals, and in the 79th minute, Ellie Carpenter cut the ball back from out wide to Kadidiatou Diani, who toe-poked it into the bottom corner.
The comeback was on with ten minutes of the 90 to go.
A foul on Lindsey Horan led to a free-kick that Selma Bacha delivered to the edge of the box, where Wendy Renard took it down and passed to Melchie Dumornay who dropped her shoulder to lose her defender and fired a magnificent shot into the right-hand corner of the goal.
The comeback was on and in the 85th minute, Les Parisiennes could not halt wave after wave of Lyon attacks. A long throw resulted in Dumornay finding space outside the 18-yard box and finding Amel Majri, who dummied the ball to let it run past her before burying it into the bottom corner.
What to expect
PSG will need every voice in the Parc des Princes to roar them on if they are going to knock out the former champions.
They have scored in their last seven games in the Champions League, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 13 from April 2021 to April 2022.
PSG will look to Marie Katoto, who has scored seven goals in eight matches, and is averaging 0.88 per game. The French forward has had 27 total attempts this term, getting off 3.38 shots per match on average.
All seven of her goals have been from inside the box, where her deadly accuracy means she is by far PSG's biggest threat in this match-up. She is also one goal behind the Golden Boot leader, Kadidiatou Diani, who has netted eight goals in nine matches.
Attack for Paris could be the best form of defence, as the intensity of Lyon's continued attacking pressure is what led to them losing their two-goal advantage. PSG have scored in each of their last seven games in the Champions League, netting 17 goals in that run.
Lyon showed what all great champions have is the muscle memory to win, turning that result around was up there with one of their best-ever performances in a semi-final.
They have scored in their last 10 games in the Champions League, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 12 games from December 2021 to December 2022.
Lyon have quality across the pitch. Diani, who made 114 appearances for PSG, will return to her former club looking to be the protagonist of this game after she clawed her new side back into the tie.
Chelsea v Barcelona
Emma Hayes and her Chelsea side travelled to Barcelona knowing only the very best performance would give them a chance of taking a positive result back to Stamford Bridge.
Barca, four-time finalists in the last five seasons, have proven they are a giant of women's football.
The pair have history in the tournament. Chelsea were humbled in the 2021 final, losing 4-0.
Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati and Caroline Graham Hansen were key to putting the game beyond the Blues before they even reached half-time. Last season, the two sides met again - this time it was a much closer affair in which Hayes's side were narrowly defeated 2-1 over the two legs.
Recap of the first leg
After what was an evenly matched first half, Chelsea's Erin Cuthbert curled an effort into the top right-hand corner. The build-up play had been patient, with the Blues winning the ball back from a throw-in near the byline; some quick feet and one-touch passing reminiscent of their Catalan opposition was enough to break the deadlock.
Chelsea have scored in their last six games in the Champions League, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of eight matches between October 2022 and March 2023.
Barcelona (four) and Chelsea (three) sat top of the table for clean sheets in the competition, and the Blues went into half-time aiming to match Barca's tally.
It looked as though Barca would have a chance to dent Chelsea's hopes of a clean sheet when a shot bounced off the arm of Chelsea's Kadeisha Buchanan as she battled for the ball with Salma Paralluelo.
However, referee Stephanie Frappart was called to the VAR screen, and the call was made that the Barcelona player had been offside and the decision to award a penalty was reversed.
Chelsea really should have made it 2-0, with Lauren James and Mayra Ramirez both squandering big chances.
Two-time Ballon d'Or winner Putellas might have snatched an equaliser in the dying seconds, yet sliced wide from the best opportunity Barca produced.
Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in four of their nine Champions League games, more than any other team, and are showing the form of potential champions.
What to expect in the next tie
The Blues have sold 35,00 tickets for Stamford Bridge with still a few more hours to pack the place out. Hayes has made it clear to her side that this is only half-time, and they will need another tremendous performance to see them into their second final. Hayes is bowing out at the end of the season, to manage the US women's national team this summer.
Chelsea have not given her the glorious farewell campaign she would have dreamed of so far after failing to win either of the two domestic cups.
The WSL title is still within their grasp, though Manchester City are a fierce rival, but the Champions League is the trophy that has illuded this magnificent era for Chelsea and would crown off the Hayes dynasty.
The Blues will need to take their chances when they come and the likes of James and Ramirez will need to show the form they have in the league.
James has scored 13 goals and provided two assists this season in the WSL.
Jess Carter, who ran the Blues defence in the first leg, will be key. Millie Bright is fit and available, a boost for the squad as she has been missing for most of the season.
Hannah Hampton might need to have the performance of her career in the Chelsea goal.
Barca attempted 11 shots in the first leg, but that was their lowest total in a single match in the Champions League this term, but with two Ballon d'Or winners in their squad, the European champions certainly possess the mentality and quality to turn this tie around.
Both ties are evenly matched and without a doubt are two of the most exciting ties we have seen in the competition's history.
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