Liverpool remained perfect in Champions League play, making it 7 wins out of 7 matches. They stayed atop the group with one match left, with a 2-1 win over Lille on January 21. Mohamed Salah gave the Reds a lead and Harvey Elliott provided the game-winner in the 67th minute after Jonathan David had equalised for a Lille side that had been sent down to 10 men.
First Half
Lille put a shot wide inside the first minute, and Mohamed Salah forced a save in the seventh minute. Neither team could generate many chances, but Liverpool controlled most possession. Curtis Jones made a run in the box but his pass was too heavy for Luis Díaz.
Díaz also whipped in a cross near the half-hour mark, but Salah could not control it. The breakthrough came in the 33rd minute. Kostas Tsimikas tackled the ball away and it fell to Jones. He played the ball forward to Salah who bent a chip shot around the goalie for a 1-0.
Salah earned a corner in the 40th minute, but Dominik Szoboslai put a shot wide. Salah also put a shot wide in the 45th minute as the Reds had to settle for a 1-0 lead at the break.
Second Half
Salah put an early shot wide to start the second half Tsimikas drew a free kick in a dangerous area in the 52nd minute and Jarell Quansah's header was just high. Conor Bradley aimed for the far corner in the 57th minute and Darwin Núñez forced a save seconds later.
Lille had to play with 10 men from the hour mark as Mandi was sent off for his second yellow after a challenge on Alexis Mac Allister. However, the visitors seemed to play better with 10 men as a blocked shot fell back to star striker Jonathan David who scored to level the game at 1-1 in the 62nd minute
The Reds wasted little time in taking back the lead. They earned a corner in the 67th minute and Tsimikas played the corner to Harvey Elliott. Elliott fired a shot from the top of the box that took a massive deflection off a defender and wound up in the back of the net. Elliott was credited with the goal and Liverpool led 2-1
Federico Chiesa forced a save in the 82nd minute, but Alexis Mac Allister stopped another goal. Núñez appeared to score on a rebound but was whistled for offside and the goal was disallowed. As a result, Liverpool had to settle for a 2-1 win.
A Look At The Standings
Liverpool were seconds away from securing the top spot in the group, but Barcelona scored on the last kick of the game to beat Benfica in their match. As a result, Barcelona ended with 18 points, three points behind Liverpool, but they are ahead of the Reds in goal difference, 15-13. No matter what happens, the Reds are guaranteed a spot in the Round of 16.
Club Records
With his first-half goal, Mohamed Salah becomes the first Liverpool player to score 50 goals for the Reds in European competition. Liverpool also broke the club record for not conceding in Europe at 599 minutes. That topped the previous mark of 578 minutes set in the 2006-2007 season. Thanks to Elliott's goal, Liverpool substitutes have now scored in four straight games, one off of the club record of 5, set in 2007.
What Now?
Since Liverpool have already qualified for the Round of 16, they might rest key players on the final matchday of the league phase. The last 16 ties are set to be played March 4-5 with return fixtures to be held the next week. The draw for the matchup will take place on February 21st.
LFC Globe Verdict
It was not easy, but Liverpool got the job done on their home pitch. The first part of the game was lacklustre but the action picked up after Salah's goal, Jonathan David is as good as advertised, but Harvey Elliott gave Liverpool a deserved result with his deflected strike. Now Liverpool are taking the next step toward their goal of being kings of Europe at the end of the season.
Man Of The Match
Sure Mohamed Salah scored a big goal, but for me, Harvey Elliot deserves Man Of The Match. He took advantage of his chance while Salah put a one-on-one chance wide late in the first half that could have made the score 2-0.
What's Next
Liverpool will return to EPL play when they host Ipswich Town on January 25th.
Goals
Liverpool
1. Mohamed Salah 34'
2. Harvey Elliott 67'
Lille
- Jonathan David 62'
Substitutions
Liverpool
- Harvey Elliott for Ryan Gravenberch HT'
- Alexis Mac Allister for Curtis Jones HT'
- Wataru Endo for Dominik Szoboszlai 63'
- Federico Chiesa for Luis Diaz 75'
- Trent Alexander-Arnold for Conor Bradley 86'
Lille
1. Osame Sahraoui for Remy Cabella 63'
2. Thomas Meunier for Mitchel Bakker 63'
3. Ismaily for Gabriel Gudmundsson 74'
4. Ayyoub Bouaddi for Ngal'ayel Mukau 74'
