Liverpool vs. Lille: 10 key issues to know forward of Champions League conflict - Liverpool FC

Liverpool host Lille within the Champions League as they appear to keep up their good report within the competitors this season.

Liverpool vs. Lille

Champions League (7) | AnfieldJanuary 21, 2025 | 8pm (GMT)

Whereas there’s barely extra driving on this recreation for Lille than Liverpool, the Reds may have their sights set on changing into the primary staff to win the Champions League‘s new league part.

There may be additionally the matter of momentum, with Arne Slot‘s aspect trying to get again into kind after a run of 1 win in 4 previous to beating Brentford.

1. Champions League soccer in January

Sure, as you understand since you’re studying this, Liverpool are enjoying European soccer in January!

With the reformatting of the Champions League has come two additional video games to be performed in a month that was beforehand reserved for home soccer.

It’s a unusual feeling to be enjoying group-stage soccer – nicely, league-phase soccer – after Christmas, however fortunately Liverpool have carried out the legwork to make sure their first two European video games of 2025 are with out an excessive amount of strain.

2. What Liverpool want

As talked about, Liverpool can go into their closing league part matches, at dwelling to Lille and away at PSV, with comparatively little stress.

The Reds aren’t but mathematically protected from having to play within the additional play-off spherical, however it could solely take a degree from both remaining recreation to seal their top-eight spot.

To win the league part and change into the primary seed for the knockout phases, the Reds would want to win one and draw one at the least.

3. Group information

Diogo Jota and Joe Gomez are Liverpool’s two absentees for this recreation.

Slot offered an replace on the gamers’ health, saying: “Possibly Jota a bit sooner than Joe, and each of them are anticipated to be again with us in weeks, not in months.”

Ibrahima Konate needs to be match to play however has admitted that he’s not one hundred pc.

“I attempt to come again actually one hundred pc however I’m not as a result of I rushed my comeback with my knee, however I’ve carried out this for my staff,” the Frenchman defined.

“I can die for this staff then, it’s high quality. My knee will come again actually one hundred pc very quickly, it’s high quality. I nonetheless have ache typically, however I play with painkillers and it’s sufficient for me to play.”

4. Beginning XI prediction

Given the character of Konate’s damage, Slot could need to hold him out of matches he doesn’t view as completely essential.

For that cause, Jarell Quansah might begin at Anfield alongside Virgil van Dijk. Darwin Nunez is in with a shout of enjoying over Luis Diaz by means of the center, whereas Wataru Endo could are available for Ryan Gravenberch.

Regardless of suggesting these adjustments, it stays possible that we see a powerful staff from Slot as he goals to construct on Saturday’s win in west London.

Predicted XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Nunez

5. Lille’s unbeaten streak

Whereas Liverpool supporters ought to anticipate a win from this recreation, the staff can’t be complacent given the opposition they’re developing towards.

Since shedding 2-0 to Sporting CP on matchday one of many Champions League, Lille are unbeaten in 21 matches throughout all competitions.

Having set a membership report for video games with out defeat, they at present sit third in Ligue 1 with 32 factors from 18 video games.

Beneath supervisor Bruno Genesio, the French outfit have scored in all however certainly one of their final 16 outings in all competitions, however they’ve saved solely two clear sheets of their final 10.

Amongst their gamers to be careful for are Canada’s report goalscorer, Jonathan David, ex-PSG man Thomas Meunier and former Newcastle attacking midfielder Remy Cabella.

6. We’ve met earlier than

Liverpool have solely met Lille for one earlier tie, the Reds triumphing 3-1 on combination within the Europa League Spherical of 16.

In March 2010, Rafa Benitez’s Reds misplaced 1-0 away with the one objective coming from Eden Hazard, the primary of seven he would rating towards Liverpool in his profession.

Nevertheless, because of a penalty from Steven Gerrard and a Fernando Torres brace, they received the second leg 3-0 to progress.

In addition to Hazard, Yohan Cabaye and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had been additionally within the Lille staff.

7. Do you know?

Ought to Liverpool go 36 minutes into this recreation with out Lille scoring, the Reds will set a brand new membership report for many minutes with out conceding a objective in Europe, beating the 572 set underneath Benitez within the 2005/06 version of the competitors.

A crowd of 44,913 or extra will see Liverpool’s complete attendance attain 5 million for European Cup/Champions League matches at Anfield.

In Liverpool’s 16 clashes towards French groups at Anfield, the Reds have received 13, drawn one and misplaced two – they had been crushed by Marseille in 2007 and Lyon in 2009.

8. Ibrahima Konate reveals Liverpool contract supply

Talking forward of the match, Konate confirmed that Liverpool have provided him a brand new contract however refused so as to add if he was near signing, saying: “That’s one other dialog!”

Experiences in France over the past 12 months claimed Liverpool had opened talks over a brand new contract, certainly one of many Richard Hughes and Co. should kind with 15 expiring between this summer time and 2027.

The centre-back’s present deal expires in 2026. Ought to Konate obtain a yellow card towards Lille, he would miss the following Champions League match towards PSV on account of suspension.