January 21. 10 p.m. Liverpool. Anfield Stadium
Champions League. Day 7
Liverpool (Angleterre) – Lille (France)
Suspensions : None
Injured: Diogo Jota (doubtful), Joe Gomez – Kylian Mbappe, Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Nabil Bentaleb, Samuel Umtiti, Thiago Santos, Edon Zhegrova
Liverpool vs Lille : Cotes des bookmakers
Liverpool have the opportunity to secure an early ticket to the Champions League knockout stages, which would ease their congested February schedule. In the previous six matches, Arne Slot’s team posted a perfect record and currently leads their group standings.
Lille, currently bottom of the top eight and five points behind Liverpool, also remains a candidate for the knockout stages. This fact adds significance and intrigue to their upcoming meeting.
Liverpool
To secure their place in the top eight, Liverpool only need to avoid a defeat against Lille. However, Arne Slot’s players are unlikely to settle for a draw, as they are close to achieving a unique and unprecedented feat in the Champions League: winning all their matches in the group stage. Currently, the Reds are the only team to have won all six of their matches (goal difference – 13:1). Furthermore, in the last five matches, Liverpool have kept a clean sheet. If Arne Slot’s team does not concede a goal against Lille, they would become only the second team in the history of the Champions League, after Leeds (1969/70 season), to achieve such a feat.
There is no doubt that Liverpool are capable of such challenges. The Reds have been consistent throughout the season, showing no signs of decline or loss of form. Last weekend, Arne Slot’s side secured a tough 2:0 victory over Brentford, thanks to a double from Darwin Nunez, strengthening their leadership in the English Premier League.
-Interestingly, Liverpool extended their home winning streak in the Champions League group stage to ten matches. During this period, the Reds have scored 22 goals while conceding just three. The last team to avoid defeat or score against Liverpool at Anfield in the group stage was Atalanta in November 2020 (2:0 victory for the Italians).
Lille
Bruno Genesié successfully continues the work started last season by Paulo Fonseca. Moreover, Lille, under the leadership of the French coach, is showing progress and aiming for new heights. In the Champions League, the Mastiffs have already caused several surprises. Genesié’s players beat both Madrid giants – Real Madrid (1:0) and Atletico Madrid (3:1), while also taking points against Juventus (1:1). Lille have a five-match unbeaten run in the Champions League (four wins, one draw) – currently only Liverpool have a longer run.
Last weekend, the Mastiffs achieved a comeback victory against Nice. Lille’s success was ensured by second-half goals from Hakon Haraldsson and Bafodé Diakité. However, the team’s top scorer remains Jonathan David, who has scored 17 goals in all competitions, attracting the interest of several wealthier and more prestigious European clubs. The striker’s excellent form is one of the key guarantees of Lille’s impressive unbeaten run, which spans 21 matches in all competitions (11 wins, 10 draws).
Liverpool vs Lille: Expected line-ups
Liverpool vs Lille: Author’s prediction
Lille are skilled in defense and counterplay, as they have shown on several occasions in this year’s Champions League. Therefore, Liverpool may find it difficult to continue their winning streak.
However, I expect Mohamed Salah and other Reds attacking players to find a way to get close to the opposition goal and secure another victory for Arne Slot’s side. My prediction is a Liverpool win + total below (4.5).
