Liverpool have a golden opportunity to secure their spot in the Champions League round of 16 this Tuesday as they welcome French side Lille to Anfield.
Currently topping the league phase, Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Girona on December 10 ensured a flawless record—six wins out of six. Lille, meanwhile, sit eighth with 13 points, clinging to the final automatic qualification spot for the knockout stage.
Liverpool may have walked away with a clean sheet against Girona, but it wasn’t without its challenges. The Reds faced eight shots inside their box and allowed nearly 1.25 expected goals (xG). Offensively, their open-play xG fell short compared to Girona’s, highlighting areas for improvement despite the win.
Still, Liverpool remain the only team with a perfect six-for-six record in this season's league phase. They also boast the joint-best defensive record, having conceded just once. Arne Slot’s squad has already secured a spot in the round of 16 playoffs but needs a single point to lock in automatic qualification. Even in the worst-case scenario of losing their last two games, they would still advance.
Domestically, Liverpool are also thriving. Sitting six points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League, they have a game in hand after beating Brentford 2-0 on Saturday. Arsenal’s draw against Aston Villa on the same day gave the Reds additional breathing room.
However, recent form has been inconsistent. Liverpool have won two, drawn two, and lost one of their last five matches, scoring nine goals but conceding four. At Anfield, they remain formidable—unbeaten in 13 home games, including nine consecutive wins before being held to two recent draws.
On the other side, Lille head into the clash with momentum after a dramatic 3-2 win over Sturm Graz on December 11. Despite surrendering a 2-0 lead, Hakon Arnar Haraldsson’s 81st-minute strike secured the victory.
Domestically, Lille are performing well, sitting third in Ligue 1 with 32 points from 18 matches, occupying the final automatic Champions League qualification spot for the 2025-26 season.
Under manager Bruno Genesio, Lille have been a tough team to beat in Europe, losing just once in six Champions League games this season. They’re unbeaten in their last five tournament fixtures, winning four. Remarkably, Les Nordistes have avoided defeat in their last 21 matches across all competitions, claiming 12 victories in the process.
On the road, Lille have also been resilient. They’ve won two and drawn one of their last three away games and haven’t suffered an away defeat since September 2024—a run spanning 11 matches.
Tuesday’s game promises a thrilling showdown between Liverpool’s dominance and Lille’s impressive unbeaten streak. Both teams have much at stake, making this a must-watch encounter.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Liverpool head into Tuesday’s clash with just one confirmed absentee: Joe Gomez, who isn’t expected back until early February.
Manager Arne Slot is unlikely to take any risks with Ibrahima Konaté due to his history of injuries. This opens the door for Wataru Endo to partner with Virgil van Dijk in central defense.
Diogo Jota’s availability remains uncertain after picking up a knock. If he isn’t cleared to play, Luis Díaz could step into the central attacking role, flanked by Mohamed Salah on one side and Federico Chiesa on the other.
Harvey Elliott’s impressive cameo against Brentford might earn him a starting spot in an advanced midfield role, likely alongside Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch in the midfield trio.
For Lille, the absence of defender Tiago Santos for the rest of the season is a significant blow, while center-back Samuel Umtiti will remain sidelined until late January.
Their likely backline features Thomas Meunier, Bafodé Diakité, Alexsandro Ribeiro, and Ismaily, with Benjamin André and Ayyoub Bouaddi anchoring the midfield. Lille will also have to cope without Ethan Mbappé and Nabil Bentaleb, further limiting their options.
In attack, Bruno Genesio may deploy Mitchel Bakker, Rémy Cabella, and Osame Sahraoui behind striker Jonathan David, as forwards Edon Zhegrova and Mathias Fernandez-Pardo are unavailable for selection.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Endo, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Gravenberch; Salah, Elliott, Chiesa; Diaz
Lille possible starting lineup:
Chevalier; Meunier, Diakite, Ribeiro, Ismaily; Andre, Bouaddi; Bakker, Cabella, Sahraoui; David
EXPERT PREDICTION
Liverpool 2-1 Lille
If Liverpool opt to tweak the lineup that triumphed over Brentford, it might disrupt their rhythm slightly, but the passionate Anfield crowd should provide the energy needed to see them through.
That said, Lille's impressive recent form makes them a formidable opponent. They could cause moments of frustration for the home fans, even if the French side ultimately falls short of securing a result.
