Liverpool continue their relentless march towards success, this time sealing a place in the Champions League knockout rounds with a hard-fought victory over Lille at Anfield. Despite not playing at their best, Arne Slot’s side still managed to find a way to win, thanks to Mohamed Salah’s historic 50th European goal, combined with Harvey Elliott’s crucial deflected strike.
The Egyptian forward may have started the game sluggishly, but as he so often does, Salah found a way to make an impact. When Lille lost possession in midfield, Curtis Jones threaded a precise through ball into the path of Salah, who made no mistake, curling his shot past keeper Lucas Chevalier. It was another masterclass in composure from the Egyptian, who once again proved why he is one of Liverpool’s all-time greats.
Lille’s task became even tougher when Aissa Mandi received a second yellow card, reducing the visitors to 10 men. However, Bruno Génésio’s men didn’t go down without a fight. Star striker Jonathan David managed to level the score in the 62nd minute, burying a rebound after Liverpool failed to clear their lines. But the Reds, undeterred, kept pressing and found the breakthrough once again thanks to a wicked deflection off Harvey Elliott’s shot, ensuring all three points.
Below, Strictly Liverpool rates Liverpool players performance vs Lille
Liverpool 2-1 Lille: Player Ratings
GK – Alisson Becker – 6/10
The Brazilian shot-stopper had little to do in the first half, as Lille failed to test him at all. Did make a couple of simple claims but wasn’t heavily involved.
RB – Conor Bradley – 6/10
Struggled to find his defensive footing early on, often caught out of position while trying to press forward. Improved in the second half, but lacked accuracy in his finishing.
CB – Jarell Quansah – 7/10
Dominated in aerial battles and made several key clearances. Kept things tidy and played safe passes to maintain control at the back.
CB – Virgil van Dijk – 6/10
Received plenty of the ball, but Lille did well to neutralize him, limiting his influence in the game.
LB – Konstantinos Tsimikas – 6/10
Showed composure in building attacks, especially with long balls into the attacking third. Unfortunately, was at fault for Lille’s equalizer after failing to clear his lines effectively.
CM – Ryan Gravenberch – 5/10
Struggled to get into the game, managing only a few touches. Subbed off at half-time for a tactical change.
CM – Curtis Jones – 6.5/10
Provided the assist for Salah’s opener, and showed glimpses of his playmaking abilities in midfield. Was withdrawn at halftime due to a minor knee injury.
CM – Dominik Szoboszlai – 6/10
Made intelligent runs into space and sought to break Lille’s defensive shape, but his passing and ball retention let him down at times.
RW – Mohamed Salah – 8/10
Bright from the start, Salah delivered when it mattered most. Scored his 50th European goal with great composure and was Liverpool’s brightest spark.
ST – Darwin Nunez – 6.5/10
Pressed high and showed good movement, constantly working to win back possession. His efforts contributed to the team’s intensity in attack.
LW – Luis Diaz – 6/10
Put in a solid shift defensively but struggled to create meaningful chances in the final third. Didn’t have much to work with in attack.
Sub – Alexis Mac Allister – 7/10
Came on to stabilize Liverpool’s midfield. His strong presence in possession and solid defensive work helped Liverpool regain control.
Sub – Harvey Elliott – 7/10
Brought energy and flair in the second half. His shot deflected off a Lille defender to put Liverpool back in front, securing the win.
Sub – Wataru Endo – 6.5/10
Showed calmness in the holding role, helping Liverpool control the tempo and neutralize Lille’s threat.
Sub – Federico Chiesa – 6/10
Looked lively in his brief cameo, cutting inside on his favored right foot and forcing a good save from the keeper.
Sub – Trent Alexander-Arnold – N/A
Only played a brief five-minute cameo at the end of the game.
With this victory, Liverpool now sit just one point away from securing top spot in their Champions League group phase, underlining their dominance both in Europe and domestically.
