Liverpool 2 – 1 Lille
Arna Slot’s team made it seven wins in seven matches in the new format of the Champions League, securing a direct spot in the last 16.
Liverpool took the lead with a sudden goal after a slow start. Lille showed a surprise response after going down to 10 men, but they couldn’t stop Slot’s side from claiming all three points. Liverpool won 2-1 at Anfield on Tuesday night. After Mohamed Salah gave them the lead, Jonathan David equalized for Lille, but Harvey Elliott’s fortunate goal sealed the win for Liverpool.
Liverpool finished the group stage with a perfect 21 points from seven matches, securing the top spot.
Lille, with 13 points from the same number of games, dropped to 11th place.
The first half hour saw just one shot on target from both teams, and Lille’s goalkeeper had little difficulty stopping Liverpool’s attempt. Then, in the 34th minute, Liverpool took the lead with a quick counterattack. After winning the ball in their own half, Curtis Jones made a brilliant through pass to Salah, who fired a stunning shot from outside the box to beat the goalkeeper.
This was Salah’s 50th goal in European competitions.
The goal boosted Liverpool’s confidence, and Salah nearly scored again before halftime. However, his shot, after a pass from Luis Díaz, went narrowly wide, and Liverpool couldn’t seize full control of the match.
At the start of the second half, Liverpool threatened again in Lille’s box. On a corner, English defender Jarell Quansah’s header flew just over the crossbar.
In the 59th minute, Lille faced another blow when defender Aïssa Mandi was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Luis Díaz.
However, Lille, who had been unbeaten in their last 21 matches across all competitions, was not ready to give up. Just minutes after going down to 10 men, Lille launched a counterattack. Midfielder Haraldsén’s shot from outside the box was blocked, but Jonathan David pounced on the loose ball and sent a low shot into the net to equalize. This was David’s fifth goal in this season’s Champions League.
But Lille’s joy was short-lived. Just four minutes later, Harvey Elliott’s shot from outside the box deflected off a defender and changed direction, wrong-footing the goalkeeper and finding the back of the net.
As the match drew to a close, Lille applied some pressure, creating a few nervy moments for Liverpool’s defense, but they couldn’t find a second goal. For the first time in over four months, Lille tasted defeat.
This loss complicated Lille’s chances of advancing to the last 16. They will play their final group match against Feyenoord at home on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Liverpool will look to maintain their winning streak when they face PSV Eindhoven away on the same day.
In another match, Atlético Madrid defeated Bayer Leverkusen 2-1, moving into third place with 15 points from five wins in seven matches. Leverkusen, with 13 points, is now in sixth place.
