Bosnia And Herzegovina
Czech Republic
Hungary
Indonesia
South Korea
United Arab Emirates

Liverpool2 - 1Lille

sportsmole.co.uk, 21 January 2025, 21:55
Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott found the net as Liverpool maintained their spot as league phase leaders in the Champions League with a 2-1 win over 10-man Lille at Anfield.

Salah's strike, his 50th in Europe for the club, came shortly before the interval, with the Egyptian racing through on goal from Curtis Jones's ball in behind, and the Liverpool forward made no mistake to beat Lucas Chevalier in the Lille goal.

It was Elliott who got the winner, as the 21-year-old saw his speculative effort take a huge deflection to leave the Lille keeper stranded shortly after Jonathan David had found a surprise equaliser for the visitors, who played the final half-an-hour a man light, due to Aissa Mandi's red card.

Fortunately for Liverpool, that goal came late enough in the evening that they were able to set a new club record for the longest time without conceding a goal in Europe, beating the previous best of 576 minutes, set by Rafael Benitez's men back in 2005-06.

The win for Liverpool was not enough to make absolutely sure of top spot, because of Barcelona's astonishing 5-4 win at Benfica, meaning Arne Slot's men still need another point to finish top of the 36-team standings, and to be top seeds for the last 16 draw.

For Bruno Genesio and Lille, their club-record 21-game unbeaten run now comes to an end, and they have fallen to 11th, with more teams around them in action tomorrow, but a place in the playoffs is already secure.

SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT

This unstoppable Liverpool machine keeps on steamrolling anyone in sight on the continent, and even when they appear sluggish and slightly off it, they still have the players in attack to go win them the game, even if tonight's winner was hugely fortuitous.

Many may turn their nose up at beating Lille, disregarding the French side as pushovers, but they are anything but, with 13 points from their opening six games, this was always likely to be a difficult night for the hosts.

Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus have all struggled against Genesio's men, and until the sending off of Mandi, Liverpool were unable to get much of a foothold on proceedings, despite leading at half time.

Ending Les Dogues' long unbeaten run means Liverpool remain on maximum points, and they can complete a perfect league phase campaign with a win over PSV Eindhoven next week.

LIVERPOOL VS. LILLE HIGHLIGHTS

Salah goal vs. Lille (34th min, Liverpool 1-0 Lille)

In a game of little chances, it only took one for Salah to give Liverpool the lead, latching onto Jones's through ball before clinically beating Chevalier in the Lille goal when faced one-on-one.

59th min: Aissa Mandi (Lille) red card

Already on a booking, Mandi is dismissed following a lunge on Luis Diaz from behind, giving referee Felix Zwayer no choice but to brandish another.

David goal vs. Liverpool (62nd min, Liverpool 1-1 Lille)

A huge surprise at Anfield as the 10 men of Lille have equalised! Positive play down the left by Gabriel Gudmundsson sees his cross find Hakon Arnar Haraldsson, whose initial effort is blocked, but falls perfectly for David who prods the ball home in front of the travelling support.

Elliott goal vs. Lille (67th min, Liverpool 2-1 Lille)

Barely five minutes after Lille's shock equaliser, Liverpool are back in front, and it is thanks to a huge slice of good fortune, with Elliott's strike from the edge of the area taking a massive deflection off Ngalayel Mukau, leaving goalkeeper Chevalier stranded.

MAN OF THE MATCH - MOHAMED SALAH

It was a game sorely lacking in quality, but Liverpool know they can always rely on main man Salah to dig them out of a hole, and that is what he did after a lacklustre opening 30 minutes tonight.

Salah remained a threat throughout, and despite not quite finding the target in the second half, he once again played an important role in another Liverpool win.

LIVERPOOL VS. LILLE MATCH STATS

Possession: Liverpool 56%-44% Lille

Shots: Liverpool 13-4 Lille

Shots on target: Liverpool 7-1 Lille

Corners: Liverpool 3-3 Lille

Fouls: Liverpool 12-9 Lille

BEST STATS

WHAT NEXT?

Liverpool are back at Anfield on Saturday, welcoming relegation candidates Ipswich Town to Merseyside in the Premier League, before concluding their league phase campaign away to PSV next week.

Lille will look to respond to losing their lengthy unbeaten streak when they go to in-form Strasbourg at the weekend, and Genesio's side end the league phase with a home clash against Feyenoord.

Written by

Andrew Delaney

Show more

Top News

13 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bradford City can maintain their third place standing in League Two with a victory on Saturday at Rodney Parade versus Newport County. 13 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Como president Mirwan Suwarso has confirmed the Italian club attempted to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United in the winter transfer window. 13 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly entered the race to sign Real Madrid-linked defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea forward Nicolas Jackson will reportedly miss around six weeks of action due to a hamstring injury. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Reece James is set to return to the lineup for Chelsea's Premier League away meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Virgil van Dijk couldn't resist making a dig at Everton players and fans after Liverpool were denied Merseyside's bragging rights at the death. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic's return to the Champions League knockout rounds ended in a 2-1 first-leg defeat against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic's return to the Champions League knockout rounds ended in a 2-1 first-leg defeat against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich. 12 February 2025 talksport.com The final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park ended crazily with Arne Slot, Curtis Jones and Abdoulaye Doucoure all getting sent off after the final whistle. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool wing wizard Mohamed Salah both broke a Premier League record and extended one of his existing ones in the Reds' pulsating 2-2 Merseyside derby draw with Everton at Goodison Park. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton and Liverpool played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Wednesday night, with James Tarkowski scoring a dramatic last-gasp equaliser. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Harry Kane has scored his first goal against a Scottish side, firing in for Bayern Munich in their Champions League knockout play-off first leg at Celtic. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Chelsea have been dealt another major injury blow with first choice striker Nicolas Jackson ruled out until April, talkSPORT understands. 12 February 2025 talksport.com West Ham's Jarrod Bowen has planted himself in the history books, and this time, it's in the Queen Vic rather than the London Stadium. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Mohamed Salah made Premier League history with his role in Liverpool's equaliser at Everton. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Reece James and Nicolas Jackson could start Chelsea's Premier League away meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion on Friday. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion captain Lewis Dunk is a major doubt for Friday's Premier League clash with Chelsea at the Amex Stadium. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Boavista have announced that they have strengthened their squad with the addition of nine players. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Six days after they locked horns in the FA Cup, Brighton & Hove Albion and Chelsea will recommence battle when they meet in Friday's Premier League clash at the Amex Stadium. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Everton and Liverpool will both be out for more than just bragging rights in the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park tonight. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United reportedly had scouts at Sporting Lisbon's league contest with Porto last week to watch Geovany Quenda following claims that the Red Devils have a deal in place to sign the youngster this summer. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig are reportedly open to letting Benjamin Sesko leave during this summer's transfer window, with Arsenal and Manchester United said to be among the clubs interested in his services. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola reportedly views Bayer Leverkusen attacker Florian Wirtz as his 'dream replacement' for Kevin De Bruyne, but it will take an astronomical fee to secure his services. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Kai Havertz being ruled out for the rest of the season has created huge problems for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Hilal head coach Jorge Jesus has confirmed that he wants Mohamed Salah at the club next season. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly 'serious contenders' to sign Bayern Munich forward Leroy Sane this summer. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers have reportedly identified Hertha Berlin youngster Ibrahim Maza as a potential summer transfer target. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United could reportedly battle the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea and Liverpool for the signature of RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba during this summer's transfer window. 12 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fresh off yet another controversy, Turkish Super Lig's bottom side Adana Demirspor will host Antalyaspor at the New Adana Stadium on Friday to kick off round 24. 12 February 2025 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo's dream of scoring 1000 career goals has been given a big boost.