Liverpool-Lille match preview
Liverpool’s great season continues with a return to European action where so far Arne Slot’s side boast a perfect record of six wins in six Champions League matches.
The Reds are guaranteed at least a play-off place in the new league format and are top of the table with two matches remaining.
Lille have also impressed, winning four of their six matches to move up to eighth – but only two French teams have ever won at Anfield in a major competition.
Slot says he’s not focused on first place in the standings because no one knows if that will guarantee an easier knockout match at this point.
He said: “The most important thing is when we go there we want to win a game.
We are back! 🙌#UCL pic.twitter.com/a3kizqozJt
– UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 20, 2025
“With this new setup, you think finishing number one is the best position to finish, but because it’s such a strange ranking, because every week, even if you play a team lower in the rankings, it’s the hardest team to face and if you finish number one you will get to face them.
“I don’t think of the rankings in a way that if you finish number one you get the easiest team, because being at the top doesn’t tell you you’re the best team. It’s impossible to tell because of the strange format we have.
Liverpool-Lille team news
Liverpool will once again be without Portuguese striker Diogo Jota, who missed the Reds’ trip to Brentford.
Working 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 against Nottingham Forest, but he overstrained a shoulder muscle and will be out for several weeks.
Versatile defender Joe Gomez suffered a hamstring injury in December and also remains out.
Liverpool vs Lille expected line-ups
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Nunez, Gakpo
Lille: Knight; Meunier, Diakité, Ribeiro, Ismaily; André, Gomes; Bakker, Haraldsson, Cabella; David
How to watch Liverpool vs Lille: TV, live stream
