Mohamed Salah continues to solidify his legacy. Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Lille at Anfield not only secured a direct spot in the Champions League Round of 16 but also reaffirmed the Reds’ dominance in the tournament. The team remains the only undefeated side in the competition, leading the table with 21 points.
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Decisive and historic
Mohamed Salah didn’t start the match in his usual form, with early mistakes causing some tension among the fans. But, as any great forward knows, it’s the decisive moments that matter most. At the 34th minute of the first half, Salah capitalized on a precise pass from Curtis Jones, breaking the deadlock and reaching the incredible milestone of 50 goals in European competitions for Liverpool. Reflecting on the achievement, Salah said: “I hope [I’m] not the last, but it’s something I’m very happy and proud of — especially because we won the game, so that’s the most important thing.”
The No. 11 exemplifies consistency: with 39 direct goal contributions this season, 22 goals and 17 assists, Salah remains a cornerstone in Arne Slot’s team.
Elliott seals the win
Lille didn’t go down without a fight. Despite Aissa Mandi’s second-half red card, Jonathan David equalized just three minutes later, injecting more drama into the game. However, it was Harvey Elliott who had the final word. At the 67th minute, the young Englishman struck from outside the box, with a deflection sealing the Reds’ hard-earned three points.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot highlighted his team’s patience and praised their effort: “I’m used to this from these players, but maybe today asked a little more of them [in terms of] patience. The reason Lille has done so well — 21 games unbeaten and the teams they’ve beaten in the Champions League— is that [...] it shows how disciplined they are, how much they’re willing to work, and how well the manager is doing there.”
Unbeaten and dominant
With seven wins in seven matches, Liverpool has cemented its dominance in the tournament. Slot also emphasized the team’s balance between defense and attack: “What’s good for me is that we’re not conceding goals by defending too much; we’re keeping clean sheets by attacking a lot. That makes it even better than if we were always sitting in a low block, clearing every ball, and taking no risks in buildup play.”
This balance, combined with Salah’s technical brilliance and the collective work ethic, has been crucial to Liverpool’s Champions League success. Their early qualification spares the team from an additional preliminary round.
A worthy opponent in the next stage?
For Slot, finishing first or second in the group isn’t always a clear advantage: “If in tennis you’re No. 1, you know it’s always better to face No. 24 than No. 8 or No. 12 [.] We still don’t know if that’s an advantage or not,” he reflected. Regardless of their next opponent, Liverpool heads into the Round of 16 with strong momentum fueled by solid performances.