Following Losc's defeat on Tuesday evening at Liverpool (2-1), during the 7th day of the Champions League, find out what pleased… and displeased our editorial staff.
TOPS
Mohamed Salah power 50
The best player in the world. Since the start of the season, the Liverpool striker has been walking on water. And he proved it again tonight. Against the Mastiffs, the Egyptian scored (already) his 22nd goal of the season, on the type of action he is most fond of. Sent deep on a rapid offensive to eliminate his opponent and deceive the opposing goalkeeper. Gabriel Gudmundsson and Lucas Chevalier (unfortunately) paid the price. By opening the scoring for the Reds (34th), the “Pharaoh” scored his 50th goal in European Cups. A statistic which once again shows the class of this extraordinary player, well launched – if Liverpool goes to the end of the Premier League or the C1 -, to win his first Ballon d'Or, next October.
The Reds midfielder managed
Without imbuing a maddening pace, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones dominated the midfield. The latter recovered a significant number of balls and delivered the (delicious) decisive pass on Mohamed Salah's opener. The Englishman was replaced at the break by another youngster trained at the club, Harvey Elliott. The 21-year-old was, with success, the author of the winning goal for Liverpool (67th). Szoboszlai stepped up his efforts and showed off his physical power. An impressive volume of play from the Hungarian.
The accomplices were chaperoned by the precious Gravenberch, always fair, intelligent in his choices and well placed. The Dutchman knows how to play simply and efficiently, as on his team's first goal where his light touch on the ball puts Jones in the direction of the game. Also entering during the match, in the second half, Alexis Mac Allister, like a good soldier, He was notably sacrificed on Hákon Arnar Haraldsson's strike (84th), to preserve the Reds' advantage. The Liverpool midfielder is undoubtedly one of the best in Europe. Surely, even, the best currently.
The Mastiffs, heads held high
After bringing down Real Madrid, Atlético and drawing against Juventus, the Northerners dreamed of taking the scalp of Liverpool, the undisputed and indisputable leader of this Champions League campaign. Despite the goal of Jonathan David (62nd), as a good surface fox, it was nothing of the sort. In the majestic den of Anfield, Bruno Genesio's men did not hesitate and fought valiantly, until the end, as usual. Lille tried, even in the final moments, to tickle the English ogre. This time without success. But the Mastiffs showed once again what made them so special. A champion mentality, in a team of warriors.
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Champions League: Genesio believes that defeat at Liverpool can “make” Lille grow
FLOPS
Ngal'ayel Mukau myths
A failed score from home on the part of the Congolese international. The northern midfielder was imprecise on almost all of his balls, notably not losing a bunch. The latter only made bad choices until his replacement by Ayyoub Bouaddi (74th). The Dogue learned a lesson against the Reds midfield trio. Hoping this helps him and that he learns…
Aïssa Mandi and Mitchel Bakker…
Losc could have done without it. Already trailing, the Mastiffs found themselves numerically inferior during the last half hour following the gross exclusion of the Algerian international, author of two late fouls. The Lille right-back was never in the right rhythm, in great difficulty against Luis Diaz, who made him dizzy with each of his accelerations. A really ugly match from him. The 33-year-old, powerless against the untenable Colombian, was clearly not up to the task for this meeting. Establishing Thomas Meunier would undoubtedly have been more judicious on the part of Bruno Genesio.
… (completely) lost
And what about his teammate Mitchel Bakker. A filthy performance from the Dutch international. The former PSG player did even worse than his Algerian friend. Nothing can be learned from his match. While he was rather good during Losc's last outings, the right-back this time sank at Anfield, particularly in the second half. The latter left far too many balls on the way and was (logically) replaced by Osame Sahraoui (63rd) to put an end to the ordeal…
