Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Lille at Anfield strengthened their position in the Champions League group stage with a seventh straight win.
Mohamed Salah’s first-half goal put Arne Slott’s side in front and although there was a surprise strike when Jonathan David equalized after Lille had put Lille 10 up following Aisa Mandy’s red card, Harvey Elliott’s deflected strike won the game.
Barcelona’s dramatic 5-4 win against Benfica means Liverpool still need a point to be assured of the top spot, but no one can top 21 now after seven straight wins no mean feat considering Lille’s 21 game unbeaten streak.
Harvey Elliott scored Liverpool’s winning goal
Slott was able to rotate some of the stars, replacing Ryan Gravenburch at half-time and introducing Trent Alexander-Arnold late on, and can now head to PSV for the final game, knowing a draw will be enough for the side who remain Champions League favourites.
Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah
After becoming the first Liverpool player to score 50 goals in Europe, Mohamed Salah told Amazon Prime:
“I hope I’m not the last. I wasn’t focused on the record before the game. It’s something I’m very happy and proud of, especially because we won the game, that’s the most important thing.
“Lille had a really good game plan, they were 21 games unbeaten and they were a tough team. They showed that in the first half and the second half, so I’ll give them credit, but I’m glad we managed to win.”
Salah on the similarities between this Liverpool team and 2019 Champions League winners under Jurgen Klopp.
“It’s different. Different coaches, different players. We have good talent, players who work hard. We’re just going to try and see.”
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah celebrates with teammates Darwin Nunes and Curtis Jones
Slot is ‘more impressed than the crowd’
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot: talking to Amazon Prime:
“We’re happy to be in the top eight. That’s the only thing that says something to me, because this league table doesn’t say that.
“Usually in tennis, if you’re the first, if you’re playing No. 24, you know they’re not as good as No. 16, but because we’re playing different teams, maybe No. 24 is better than No. 16.
“We want to be at the top of the league but we have to wait and see if that is an advantage.
“As a coach, I’m a little bit more impressed than I think the crowd would think it was only Lille. But I knew they were 21 games unbeaten. They beat Real Madrid and ” Atlético” and, with all due respect, they did. So without the best players in the world.
“It shows that they are very well organized and they are a hard-working team, so I was happy with the patience we had, not with difficult passes, but with complete dominance.
“The only thing I wasn’t happy about was that it’s been one missed opportunity, one missed goal for a couple of weeks now.”
