Liverpool 2 – 1 Lille – The CL Postmortem

This was a game that pitted a patient and well-drilled Ligue 1 side against the current Premier League leaders, with both teams looking to enhance their chances of immediate progression into the next round of the Champions League. Arne Slot was looking to win his seventh straight game in football’s most elite competition, whereas Bruno Génésio was hoping to maintain their brilliant start to this season’s European Cup.

Below is how the team lined up, with match details following.

The Starting Eleven

GK – Alisson Becker
RB – Conor Bradley
RCB – Jarell Quansah
LCB – Virgil van Dijk
LB – Kostas Tsimikas
CM – Ryan Gravenberch
ACM – Dominik Szoboszlai
CM – Curtis Jones
RF – Mohamed Salah
CF – Darwin Núñez
LF – Luis Díaz

Subs

Harvey Elliott – Ryan Gravenberch (45 mins)
Alexis Mac Allister – Curtis Jones (45 mins)
Wataru Endō – Dominik Szoboszlai (64 mins)
Federico Chiesa – Luis Díaz (72 mins)
Trent Alexander Arnold – Conor Bradley – (85 mins)

Goals (Assisted by)

Liverpool 1 – 0 Lille
Mohamed Salah (Curtis Jones) – 34 mins

Liverpool 1 – 1 Lille
Jonathon David – 62 mins

Liverpool 2 – 1 Lille
Harvey Elliott – 67 mins

Important Match Stats

Possession
Liverpool 00% – 00% Lille

XG
Liverpool 2.26 – 0.49 Lille

Total Shots
Liverpool 13 – 4 Lille

Corner Kicks
Liverpool 3 – 3 Lille

Fouls
Liverpool 12 – 9 Lille

Offsides
Liverpool 1 – 3 Lille

Goalkeeper Saves
Liverpool 0 – 5 Lille

The First Half

The opening period of the game was a cagey affair as Liverpool looked to probe against a well-drilled and defensively oriented opposition with patience. Mohamed Salah had the first effort as he curled a looping shot into the arms of the visitor’s keeper from the angle. Some decent pressure from Lille forced Virgil van Dijk into a good-headed clearance as the encounter continued to swing from end to end without producing anything of note.

A good set piece was then wasted by the Egyptian King, Salah, as his and Dominik Szoboszlai’s hesitation ended in a cross into the box which evaded all of his teammates. A few minutes later and after some good recycling of the ball, Curtis Jones was able to launch a progressive counterattack with a well-directed punt upfield. The Columbian flyer, Luis Díaz, was able to scamper away and launched a mid-height cross into the box, only for Mohamed Salah to miss the opportunity to strike. Luckily for the home support, another smart through ball by Curtis released his direct nature number eleven, Salah, who slotted the opener beyond an on-rushing keeper with aplomb.

An outrageous opportunity was missed just before halftime, as the game’s only goal scorer controlled a lofted through ball and edged away from his marker with an immense show of strength, before sliding the ball just wide of the far post. The half ended with the scoreline at 1-0 and the Reds fully deserving of their narrow one-goal lead.

The Second Half

At the start of the second half, the Liverpool head coach made two changes as a sign that the weekend visit from Ipswich was a prominent consideration. Immediately after the restart, Darwin Núñez was nearly able to open up the defence with a penetrating run, however, the opposition keeper was able to collect the ball at the edge of his penalty area. Jarell Quansah was then unlucky with a glancing header over the bar after Kostas Tsimikas had floated a fine set piece into the box.

As the game started to open up, Conor Bradley was able to be more adventurous and blazed a shot over the bar from the angle. As the renewed energy of Liverpool increased within a cauldron of song, the Lille fullback, Aïssa Mandi, was sent off for a second bookable offence. Despite the unfortunate dismissal, a defensive lapse by the hosts allowed Jonathon David to level with a close-range shot beyond a flailing Alisson Becker, following a scramble of bodies around the penalty spot.

Fortunately for the shelled-shocked home support in attendance, the Red’s lead was restored moments later as Harvey Elliott scored a deflected effort to calm the Anfield nerves. With a raft of changes being made to preserve the hosts squad, the equaliser conceded and the subsequent second Liverpool goal was built from a period where control was lost and then regained.

Despite the odds being stacked against the onrushing counterattack of Salah, the sensational forward was able to push back his marker and race into the penalty area before his low right-footed shot was well saved by the keeper. Federico Chiesa would be the next forward to test the Lille goal, as he drove inside and unleashed a ferocious strike which was palmed away from goal. Some suspect defensive work by Harvey Elliott at the other end of the pitch allowed a shot by the visitors, which was blazed over the bar after a deflection. Another chance was created by the desire and powerful shot of Chiesa which was again well saved before Darwin tucked the rebound into the net. The third Liverpool goal was sadly disallowed for an offside on the advancing Uruguayan.

The match ended with the result both assured and deserved as the Merseyside giants continued their winning streak in this tournament.

Post-Match Verdict

Arne Slot got almost every decision correct tonight, as he looked to manage the night as well as the upcoming endeavours. Progression into the next phase of the European Cup means that a play game is now averted, therefore, more rotation can be undertaken for the trio to face PSV.

Pre-match Prediction;

Liverpool 3 – 1 Lille