Liverpool continued their impeccable Champions League campaign with a 2-1 victory over Lille at Anfield, securing their seventh consecutive win in the competition. Harvey Elliott’s decisive volley in the second half ensured the Reds remained atop the league phase table, while Lille’s spirited performance fell short after being reduced to ten men.
Match Recap: A Tale of Two Halves
First Half: Salah’s Moment of Brilliance
Lille arrived at Anfield brimming with confidence, riding a 21-game unbeaten streak. The French side started strong, stifling Liverpool’s attacking trio and silencing the Anfield crowd. However, a lapse in concentration allowed Mohamed Salah to break the deadlock in the 34th minute.
Curtis Jones pounced on a loose ball deep in Lille’s half, threading a perfectly weighted pass to Salah. The Egyptian made no mistake in a one-on-one with Lucas Chevalier, firing Liverpool into the lead with clinical precision.
Second Half: Drama Unfolds
The game seemed to tilt further in Liverpool’s favor when Lille’s Aissa Mandi received his second yellow card just after the hour mark. However, the ten-man visitors refused to roll over. Gabriel Gudmundsson’s cutback found Hakon Haraldsson, whose blocked shot fell kindly for Jonathan David to smash home the equalizer in the 63rd minute.
Liverpool responded almost immediately. Harvey Elliott, brought on at halftime, capitalized on a half-cleared corner, volleying a deflected shot into the bottom corner to restore Liverpool’s lead just four minutes later.
Despite Lille’s valiant efforts in the dying moments, Liverpool’s defense held firm, securing three points and guaranteeing their place in the Champions League round of 16.
Player Ratings
Liverpool (4-3-3)
- GK: Alisson (6.3/10): Had little to do but couldn’t stop David’s strike.
- RB: Conor Bradley (7.0/10): Solid and composed in a rare start.
- CB: Jarell Quansah (7.2/10): Steady and mature performance from the young defender.
- CB: Virgil van Dijk (6.7/10): Marshaled the defense well but had a few nervy moments.
- LB: Kostas Tsimikas (7.7/10): Provided energy and width down the left.
- CM: Dominik Szoboszlai (6.5/10): Showed flashes of creativity but lacked consistency.
- CM: Ryan Gravenberch (6.8/10): Worked hard to link play in midfield.
- CM: Curtis Jones (7.3/10): Instrumental in Salah’s opener with a sublime assist.
- RW: Mohamed Salah (7.9/10): Clinical as ever with a composed finish.
- ST: Darwin Nunez (8.0/10): Tireless work rate and constant threat in the box.
- LW: Luis Diaz (7.7/10): A lively presence on the left flank.
Lille (4-2-3-1)
- GK: Lucas Chevalier (7.5/10): Made several crucial saves to keep Lille in the game.
- RB: Aissa Mandi (5.2/10): A reckless performance capped by a red card.
- CB: Bafode Diakite (5.9/10): Struggled to deal with Liverpool’s pace.
- CB: Alexsandro Ribeiro (6.6/10): Battled well against Nunez.
- LB: Gabriel Gudmundsson (6.3/10): Provided the assist for Lille’s equalizer.
- CM: Ngal Ayel Mukau (5.8/10): Overrun in midfield.
- CM: Benjamin Andre (5.9/10): Failed to control the tempo.
- AM: Hakon Haraldsson (6.1/10): Energetic but lacked end product.
- RW: Mitchel Bakker (6.0/10): Struggled to make an impact.
- ST: Jonathan David (7.2/10): Took his goal well but had limited service.
- LW: Remy Cabella (6.8/10): Showed glimpses of quality but faded.
Key Performances
Player of the Match: Darwin Nunez (Liverpool)
Nunez was a constant menace for Lille’s defense, combining relentless energy with intelligent movement. Although he didn’t score, his presence was pivotal in creating space for teammates.
Biggest Disappointment: Aissa Mandi (Lille)
The right-back’s rash decision-making left Lille short-handed and ultimately cost them the game.
What’s Next?
Liverpool will look to maintain their perfect Champions League record in their final league phase match, while Lille remains in the hunt for a top-eight finish. Both teams will need to regroup as the knockout stages loom.
