Liverpool Advances to Champions League Last 16 with Win Over Lille

Eppe Franklyne –

• Liverpool secured a 2-1 victory over 10-man Lille at Anfield, advancing to the last 16 of the Champions League.
• Mohamed Salah scored his 50th European goal for Liverpool, and Harvey Elliott netted the winning goal.
• Lille, despite being reduced to 10 men, equalized through Jonathan David before Elliott’s deflected shot restored Liverpool’s lead.
• Liverpool remains top of their group with 21 points, three points ahead of Barcelona.

Liverpool clinched a spot in the Champions League knockout stages with a 2-1 win over 10-man Lille at Anfield on Tuesday. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring with a brilliant 34th-minute goal, marking his 50th European strike for the club. The goal followed a well-timed pass from Curtis Jones after Kostas Tsimikas regained possession in midfield.

Despite Lille being reduced to 10 players after Aissa Mandi received a second yellow card for a foul on Luis Diaz, Jonathan David equalized for the visitors in the 62nd minute. The Canadian forward struck a loose ball into the net after a blocked shot from Hakon Arnar Haraldsson.

However, Liverpool quickly regained the lead. In the 67th minute, a corner was cleared to the edge of the box, where Harvey Elliott fired a powerful shot that took a deflection into the net. Lille’s hopes were further dashed when Darwin Nunez’s late goal was ruled offside, although the Anfield crowd showed their appreciation for his effort.

Liverpool now leads their group with 21 points, three ahead of Barcelona, while Lille sits 11th with 13 points. Liverpool will conclude their group stage campaign with a trip to PSV Eindhoven on January 29, while Lille will host Feyenoord.