The context
A legendary stadium, a legendary competition and on the other hand, a very fit team, undoubtedly the best in Europe at the moment. They are indeed the Liverpool Reds, Premier League and Champions League leaders that the Mastiffs challenge this Tuesday at Anfield for what registers as one of the most prestigious matches of the season. On the pitch, Bruno Genesio decides to line up a midfielder Benjamin André-Ngala Mukau in support of the trio Rémy Cabella, Hakon Haraldsson, Mitchel Bakker, behind Jonathan David.
The match
The first opportunity is Lille. From the start, Gaby Gudmundsson sinks onto her left side and hits hard. Out of frame (1'). If the Reds gain possession, the Mastiffs do not give up ground and press high. We are witnessing a rather balanced start, a tactical fight with few opportunities. The Northerners are well in place, concentrated and diligent. But on an aborted Lille offensive, Liverpool burst out on the counter and opened the scoring with Salah who beat the exit of Lucas Chevalier (34', 1-0). Too bad, because LOSC's game plan has been perfectly oiled until now. The Egyptian striker Redsstill launched at depth, is even very close to breaker but his shot goes wide (45'). Bruno Genesio's men return to the locker room with a goal behind. Everything remains possible.
If the Mastiffs try to overturn the match, the locals maintain their control at the start of the second act and offer themselves the best opportunities. The situation becomes even more complex when sanctioned with a second yellow card for a slight collision, Aïssa Mandi is sent off (59'). Lille will finish 10 against the current Champions League leader (6 wins in 6 games). However, this is the moment that the Mastiffs choose to strike. Strong. Opportunistic, following a shot from Hakon Haraldsson following a cross from Gaby Gudmundsson, Jonathan David equalized from close range (1-1, 62'). While Osame Sahraoui and Thomas Meunier (62') entered at the same time, Liverpool unfortunately regained the advantage with a long shot from Elliott, blocked by Ngala Mukau (67'). The entries of Ismaily and Ayyoub Bouaddi (74') and the two decisive interventions of Lucas Chevalier (79', 82') will not change anything. We even believe in the equalizer with this strike from Hakon Haraldsson at the edge of the area (85').
LOSC lost by a narrow head against a solid and formidable English team, undefeated on the European scene for 9 months.
The wink
Congratulations to the 3,000 Lille supporters present this Tuesday in the visitors' stand at Anfield! Noisy and festive, they encouraged their team until the end.
The sequel
A match every three/four days, such is the rhythm of the Mastiffs in the coming weeks. After Liverpool in the Champions League, LOSC meets Strasbourg in Ligue 1 this Saturday (7 p.m.). The Northerners will then continue with a new European meeting against FeyenoordWednesday January 29 at the Decathlon Arena Stade Pierre Mauroy.
The match sheet
LIVERPOOL FC-LOSC: 2-1 (1-0)
Tuesday January 21, 2025, 9 p.m. – UEFA Champions League, day 7 of the league phase
Anfield Road
Referee: M.Zwayer (ALL)
Buts : Salah (34'), Elliott (67') for Liverpool; David (62') for LOSC
Warnings: Mandi (37', 59'), André (88') for LOSC; MacAllister (90'+2) for Liverpool
Expulsion : Mandi (59') for LOSC
Liverpool FC: Alisson – Bradley (Alexander-Arnold, 87'), Quansah, Van Dijk (c), Tsimikas – Szoboszlai, Gravenberch (MacAllister, 46'), Jones (Elliott, 46') – Salah, Nunez, Diaz (Chiesa, 75' )
Coach : Arne Slot
LOSC: Chevalier – Mandi, Diakité, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson (Ismaily, 74') – André (c), Mukau (Bouaddi, 74') – Bakker (Meunier, 62'), Haraldsson, Cabella (Sahraoui, 62') – David
Coach : Bruno Genesio
