Watch the full Champions League highlights as Liverpool beat 10-man Lille 2-1 to make it seven wins out of seven in the league phase.
Liverpool Survive Potential Banana Skin To Beat 10-Man Lille
It took until just after the half-hour mark for Liverpool to make the breakthrough. After some good defensive work from Tsimikas, Curtis Jones produced a brilliant through ball to Mohamed Salah to put him through on goal.
With just the goalkeeper to beat, the Egyptian curled the ball round an on-rushing Chevalier from outside the area to make it 1-0 on the night. It is a landmark strike for Salah – his 50th European goal for Liverpool.
Mo Salah has scored his 50th European goal for Liverpool 👏#BBCFootball #UCL pic.twitter.com/GQc20FiXy5
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) January 21, 2025
Salah could’ve double his tally before the break. However, the forward just put his shot wide of the far post after muscling off the defender.
Liverpool continued to threaten after the break with a flurry of chances. Then, on the hour mark, Arne Slot’s side were handed the advantage when Lille right-back Mandi saw red for a second bookable offence.
But Lille refused to stick to the script. Minutes after being reduced to 10 men, Lille scored the equaliser. After some good work down the right, Jonathan David found himself in the right place at the right time to tuck the ball into the net – his 18th goal of the season.
Despite coming under pressure, Liverpool held their nerve. With a Reds corner cleared to the edge of the box, Harvey Elliott struck the ball towards goal, with his shot taking a wicked deflection into the net, leaving the Lille goalkeeper with no chance of saving it.
With their man advantage, Liverpool were able to dictate the play and frustrate Lille. The hosts then thought they made it 3-1 when Darwin Nunez tapped into the net but was clearly in an offside position.
Slot’s men saw out the game to record their seventh straight league phase game in the Champions League this season.
WATCH: Liverpool 2-1 Lille Highlights
Liverpool Cement Their Spot At The Top Of The Table
Liverpool qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League as league winners. Barcelona, who are second in the table, managed a stunning 5-4 comeback win to beat Benfica, but the Reds still remain three points clear of the Catalan giants.
It has been a superb campaign so far for the Reds, who have been playing good football under Slot in his first season at the club.
Meanwhile for Lille, they look set for the playoffs, having lost their second game in the Champions League to leave them five points clear of the drop zone.
You can read SportsCasting’s player ratings for Liverpool vs Lille here.
