LIVERPOOL 2-1 LILLE: Goals from Mo Salah and Harvey Elliott ensured Liverpool have booked their place in the last 16 of this year’s Champions League, though the Reds had to survive a scare
Mo Salah scored his 50th European goal for Liverpool as the Reds squeezed past 10-man Lille.
The win means that Liverpool have secured their place in the last 16 of this year’s Champions League, the first team to do so under the Swiss model. A largely tepid first-half was brought to life after 34 minutes when Curtis Jones played a brilliant through ball to Salah to bury home.
The hosts dominated after the break and were handed a boost when Aissa Mandi was handed two yellow cards. But three minutes later, Lille were remarkably on level terms when Jonathan David blasted home an equaliser from close range.
The goal shocked the home crowd but Harvey Elliott put Arne Slot’s side back in front a short time later via a massive deflection from Ngal Ayel Mukau. Here, Mirror Football looks at the biggest talking points from Liverpool’s win.
Liverpool make history
Tuesday’s win ensured Liverpool became the first team to book their place in the last 16 of this year’s Champions League. The three points also cemented their position at the top of the table, with no other team able to catch them.
It is a historic achievement for Arne Slot’s side, with this being the first year the Swiss model has been used. While it does not bring a trophy with it, claiming top spot will certainly be a confidence boost heading into the knockouts.
With top spot assured, boss Slot has the chance to give some of his players a well-deserved rest in the final league game against PSV Eindhoven, should he choose to take it.
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Salah’s latest landmark
It has been a ridiculous season from Mo Salah and he reached yet another landmark on Tuesday. Salah struck 11 minutes before the break to bring what had been a fairly banal game to life with a neat finish past Lucas Chevalier.
The strike was his 50th European goal since joining Liverpool back in the summer of 2017. He had already become the Reds’ all-time leading scorer in Europe, with Tuesday’s goal extending his record.
The Egyptian now has nine more European strikes for Liverpool than previous record holder Steven Gerrard. His matchwinning performance is the latest evidence that Reds chiefs should hand him a new contract.
Jones sends a message
Curtis Jones made headlines on Monday with his comments about Eden Hazard and Salah. The midfielder had claimed the Frenchman was a better player than his current Liverpool team-mate.
While the midfielder quickly moved to play down the comments, they did raise eyebrows among Reds fans. Jones firmly put any questions of loyalty to bed with his performance against Lille.
He produced a brilliant through ball to perfectly set Salah up to open the scoring. That assist should go a long way to calming down any tensions that had arisen following his comments about Hazard.
Reds’ weakness clear
It was a largely comfortable evening for Liverpool, though there will be one thing Slot may keep in mind ahead of the summer transfer window. Lille’s main source of hope came from out wide.
Slot opted to leave first-choice fullbacks Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the bench, with Kostas Tsimikas and Conor Bradley stepping up. The duo were unconvincing though and both were poor in the lead up to Lille’s goal.
With Alexander-Arnold heading for the exit at the end of his contract and Robertson enduring a tough campaign, it may well be time for the Reds to search for a pair
David makes his mark
Jonathan David is a man in demand, with Manchester United and Arsenal among the clubs chasing his signature. It was a tough night for the striker, but he ensured he made his mark on the game in style.
David had precious little service, but he scored with his only real chance to level things up. After Hákon Haraldsson’s shot was blocked, David was on hand to blast home an equaliser, showing he has what it takes to score against elite defences.
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