Liverpool – Lille match preview
Liverpool’s fine season continues with a return to European action, where Arne Slot’s side have a perfect record of six wins from six Champions League games so far.
The Reds are guaranteed at least a play-off place in the new league format and top of the table with two games remaining.
Lille have also impressed, winning four of their six games and sit eighth – but only two French sides have ever won at Anfield in a major competition.
Slot says he is not focused on finishing at the top of the table as nobody knows if that will guarantee an easier knockout game at this stage.
He said: “The most important thing is when we go out there we want to win a game.
We’re back! 🙌#UCL pic.twitter.com/a3kizqozJt
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 20, 2025
“With this new set-up, you think number one is the best place to end up, but because it’s such a strange league table, because every week, even if you’re facing a team further down, they’re the hardest team to face and if you finish number one you could face them.
“I don’t think of the league table in a way that if you finish number one you have the easiest team because being top doesn’t mean you’re the best team. It’s impossible to tell because of the strange shape we have.”
Liverpool – Lille team news
Liverpool will again be without Portuguese striker Diogo Jota, who missed the Reds’ trip to Brentford.
Work towards #UCL MD7 👊 pic.twitter.com/IWqkVX89Nz
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) January 20, 2025
Jota came on and scored after 22 seconds in the recent draw with Nottingham Forest, but has strained his shoulder muscle and will be out for several weeks.
Versatile defender Joe Gomez suffered a hamstring injury in December and also remains out.
Expected lineups Liverpool – Lille
Liverpool: Alisson? Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson? Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
Lil: Chevalier; Meunier, Diakite, Ribeiro, Ismaily; Others, Gomes? Bakker, Haraldsson, Cabella; David
How to watch Liverpool vs Lille: TV, live streaming
