Liverpool secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over a ten-man Lille side in the Champions League on Tuesday, extending their flawless record in the competition to seven consecutive wins this season.
Lille arrived at Anfield riding a 21-game unbeaten streak stretching back to mid-September and looked confident in the early stages. The French side successfully stifled Liverpool’s potent attack and subdued the Anfield crowd with disciplined defending and sharp organization.
However, it took a moment of brilliance in the 34th minute to spark the hosts into life. Jonathan David, Lille’s star forward, lost possession deep in Liverpool’s half, allowing Curtis Jones to pounce. Jones threaded a perfectly weighted pass through Lille’s disjointed defense, setting Mohamed Salah free for a one-on-one with Lucas Chevalier. The Egyptian clinically slotted past the keeper, sending Anfield into raptures.
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Liverpool appeared in control as the second half began, maintaining a comfortable tempo. The game tilted further in their favor when Lille right-back Aissa Mandi received his second yellow card in the 60th minute, reducing the visitors to ten men.
Yet Lille responded almost immediately. A low cutback from Gabriel Gudmundsson found Hakon Haraldsson, whose initial effort was blocked. Jonathan David reacted quickly, firing home to level the match just three minutes after Lille went down to ten men.
Liverpool, stunned but undeterred, regained the lead in the 67th minute. Harvey Elliott, introduced at halftime by manager Arne Slot, capitalized on a half-cleared corner. The young midfielder volleyed the ball through a crowded penalty area, with a slight deflection guiding it into the bottom corner.
Despite Lille showing flashes of danger late on, Liverpool’s defense held firm to secure all three points. The victory guarantees their place in the Champions League round of 16, maintaining their dominance in Europe’s top competition.
