90min
·21 janvier 2025
90min
·21 janvier 2025
FROM ANFIELD - Liverpool secured passage to the Champions League round of 16 by beating ten-man Lille 2-1 at Anfield on Tuesday.
The Reds looked set for a straightforward evening when Aissa Mandi received his marching orders with his side already trailing to a Mohamed Salah first-half goal. But Jonathan David's strike ensured the hosts were made to work for a win that was sealed by Harvey Elliott's deflected second-half effort.
Victory for Liverpool allied to Barcelona's defeat at Benfica means they will progress to the next round as group winners.
As had been the case in the majority of Liverpool's games this season, a cagey start to proceedings ensued at Anfield. As such, by the half-hour mark, both sides had mustered just a single shot, with neither managing to test the goalkeeper.
However, it was that point at which Liverpool sprang to life, kicking off a flurry of chances created late in the half by scoring through Salah. The Egyptian capped off a quick counter started by a Kostas Tsimikas tackle by running onto Curtis Jones' through pass and finishing with customary cool.
And he almost ended the half with another scored in similar circumstances, taking a brilliant first touch past Gabriel Gudmondsson but this time sending his attempt wide of the post.
Salah was almost among the goals again following the restart, but miscued a curled attempt after slick build-up, a chance Liverpool followed by teeing up Jarell Quansah to head over from a free-kick.
However, the growing pressure soon told in a different way, with Lille going down to ten after Mandi received a second yellow card for tripping Luis Diaz as he looked to run in behind.
But if that moment was supposed to signal the end of the game as a contest, then clearly nobody had told the visitors, who levelled things up moments later when David turned home inside the box after the hosts had failed to clear a cross from the left.
That joy did not last long, though, with a huge slice of fortune restoring Liverpool's lead, a significant deflection off Ngal'Ayel Mukau ensuring 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.
Harvey Elliott deliver the winning goal for Liverpool / Richard Sellers/Allstar/GettyImages
So a sizeable deflection may have helped, but Harvey Elliott's crucial goal here offered yet more proof that the youngster still has a big role to play for Liverpool this season.
The 21-year-old has struggled for minutes under Arne Slot, but strengthened his claim for greater involvement in coming off the bench to play a key part in the two goals that beat Brentford at the weekend.
And he was similarly impressive here, pulling an obstinate Lille backline this way and that before unleashing the strike that restored Liverpool's advantage. Surely Slot can no longer ignore a player who is not just one for the future, but clearly also for the now.
Arne Slot has not dropped a single Champions League point as Liverpool boss / Carl Recine/GettyImages
Liverpool will have known coming into this game that the potential to secure passage in to the Champions League round of 16 promised benefits beyond a kinder draw in the knockout stages.
And they will get to reap the benefits of those next week, when they travel to PSV Eindhoven to wrap up this section of the competition. Slot will now have the luxury of naming an entirely rotated team, and leaving some big guns behind for a well-earned rest.
Barcelona's late heroics against Benfica ensure that they are the only club who can catch Liverpool at the summit of the league phase table, yet there is no difference when it comes to seeding between first and second place. Liverpool guaranteed position as one of the top two means that they will play one of the teams that finish 15th, 16th, 17th or 18th in the round of 16.
Virgil van Dijk captained Liverpool to another European victory / Molly Darlington/Copa/GettyImages
Despite the concession of a goal here, this was another performance that will have eased concerns over a perceived recent defensive wobble from Liverpool.
David's strike represented Lille's sole shot on target, and their threat had been managed expertly even when the sides were 11 v 11.
That owed much to a brilliant collective effort, which ensured a new club record for minutes without conceding a goal in Europe was set, surpassing the previous benchmark of 572 marked under Rafa Benitez.