Mohamed Salah Shines as Liverpool Seal Last-16 Place

Mohamed Salah scored his 50th European goal for Liverpool. His goal helped the Reds win 2-1 over 10-man Lille at Anfield and secure a spot in the Champions League last 16. The victory preserves Liverpool’s perfect record in the new league format. Lille began brightly, pressing Liverpool with energy and limiting their chances. In the 34th minute, Curtis Jones played a perfect through ball to Mohamed Salah. Salah then calmly chipped the ball over goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier to open the scoring.

Moments before halftime, the referee sent off Lille’s Aissa Mandi with a second yellow card for tripping Luis Diaz leaving the visitors down to 10 men. Lille equalized three minutes later when Jonathan David capitalized on a blocked shot by Hakon Haraldsson and slotted home their first shot on target. Liverpool quickly regained control when Harvey Elliott took a shot from the edge of the box. The shot deflected and found the bottom corner, restoring their lead.

The Reds created further chances to extend their advantage. Darwin Nunez scored a late goal that the officials ruled offside while Jarell Quansah and Alexis Mac Allister missed headed opportunities from set-pieces. Lille pushed for a late equalizer with Haraldsson’s effort getting blocked. However, Liverpool managed the game effectively and secured the win. After the match, Elliott dismissed transfer speculation and affirmed his commitment to the club.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot praised his team for their professionalism, despite a sluggish start. With progression secured, Liverpool plans to rotate their squad for the final group game against PSV on January 29. Meanwhile, Lille remains in pursuit of a top-eight finish which secures a direct spot in the last 16. Liverpool now shifts focus to their demanding domestic schedule which includes Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup fixtures. They aim to maintain their strong form across all competitions.