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Liverpool secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Lille at Anfield, extending their winning streak to seven consecutive games and tightening their grip on top spot in the Champions League league phase.
Mohamed Salah’s first-half goal put Liverpool ahead, but Lille equalized soon after being reduced to 10 men following Aissa Mandi’s red card. Jonathan David’s strike had leveled the score, but Harvey Elliott’s deflected strike in the second half sealed the win for Liverpool.
The victory means Liverpool now have 21 points from seven consecutive wins and are on the cusp of securing top spot in the group. Barcelona’s dramatic 5-4 win over Benfica means Liverpool still need one more point to guarantee top spot, but no team can now overtake their tally.
Lille had been on a 21-game unbeaten run, making Liverpool’s victory all the more impressive. Manager Arne Slot was able to rotate some of his key players, substituting Ryan Gravenberch at halftime and introducing Trent Alexander-Arnold late on.
With the win, Liverpool have secured passage to the Champions League round of 16 and can now approach their final group game against PSV Eindhoven with confidence. A draw in that game will be enough to secure top spot, cementing Liverpool’s status as Champions League favourites.
The match began with a cagey start, with both teams struggling to create chances in the opening half-hour. By the 30-minute mark, both sides had mustered just a single shot, with neither managing to test the goalkeeper. However, it was at this point that Liverpool sprang to life, kicking off a flurry of chances created late in the half.
Salah scored the opener after a quick counter-attack, capping off a move started by a Kostas Tsimikas tackle. The Egyptian ran onto Curtis Jones’ through pass and finished with customary cool. He almost added another goal before halftime, taking a brilliant first touch past Gabriel Gudmondsson but sending his attempt wide of the post.
In the second half, Salah had another chance, but miscued a curled attempt after slick build-up. Lille were then reduced to 10 men after Mandi received a second yellow card for tripping Luis Diaz as he looked to run in behind.
However, the visitors leveled the score soon after, with David turning home inside the box after the hosts had failed to clear a cross from the left. That joy was short-lived, though, as Elliott’s deflected strike restored Liverpool’s lead. A significant deflection off Ngal’Ayel Mukau ensured a low Elliott strike nestled in the back of the net.
From there, Liverpool saw things out in largely sedate fashion, ensuring their upcoming trip to PSV Eindhoven has very little riding on it.
