Football

UCL: Reds Through To Last 16 Thanks To Salah, Elliot Goals

Liverpool became the first team to guarantee a place in the last 16 of the new Champions League format by beating Lille 2-1 on Tuesday. Harvey Elliott’s bouncing, deflected shot gave Liverpool its seventh win from seven games, just after 10-man Lille had equalized following Mohamed Salah’s opening goal. Liverpool needed a point at Anfield to be sure of reaching the round of 16 as one of the top eight teams in the league stage, skipping the playoff round for teams ranked ninth to 24th.Salah raced through in the 34th minute to sweep Liverpool ahead with his 22nd goal in all competitions this season. And when Lille’s Aissa Mandi was sent off just before the hour mark, Liverpool looked certain to extend its 100% record in the league p🍸hase.But Anfield was stunned when Canada striker Jonathan David converted from close range to level the score in the 62nd. It didn’t take long for Liverpool to regain the lead through Elliott’s deflected effort five minutes later.

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
UEFA Champions League soccer Liverpool vs Lille - Virgil van Dijk
Champions League 2024–25: Virgil van Dijk and Ali🅠sson a𓂃pplaud at the end of the match | Photo: AP/Jon Super

Liverpool's V🅠irgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson applaud at the end of the Champions League, opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Lille at Anfield Stadium, in Liverpool, England.

2/10
UEFA Champions League soccer Liverpool vs Lille - Hakon Arnar Haraldsson
Champions League 2024–25: Lille's Hakon Arnar Haraldsson gestures | Photo: AP/Jon Super

Lille's Hakon Arnarღ Haraldsson gestures during the Champions League, opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Lille at Anfield Sඣtadium, in Liverpool, England.

3/10
UEFA Champions League soccer Liverpool vs Lille - Federico Chiesa
Champions League 2024–25: Federico Chiesa heads the ball as Lille's Hakon Arnar Haraldsson jumps | Photo: AP/Jon Super

Liverpool's Federico Chiesa heads the ball as Lille's Hakon Ar✤nar Haraldsson jumps on the his side during the C♎hampions League, opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Lille at Anfield Stadium, in Liverpool, England.

4/10
UEFA Champions League soccer Liverpool vs Lille - Harvey Elliott
Champions League 2024–25: Liverpool's Harvey Elliott celebrates after scoring his side's second goal | Photo: AP/Jon Super

Liverpool's Harvey Elliott, right, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League, opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Lille at Anfie♕ld Stadium, in Liverpool, England.

5/10
UEFA Champions League soccer Liverpool vs Lille - Jonathan David
Champions League 2024–25: Lille's Jonathan David celebrates after scoring his side's first goal | Photo: AP/Jon Super

Lille's Jonathan David celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Champions Leag🎶ue, opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Lille at Anfield Stadium, in Liverpool, England.

6/10
UEFA Champions League soccer Liverpool vs Lille - Aissa Mandi
Champions League 2024–25: Kostas Tsimikas🍷 challenges for the ball witꦗh Aissa Mandi | Photo: AP/Jon Super

Liverpool's Kostas Tsimikas challenges for the ball with Lille'🐠s Aissa Mandi during the Champions League, opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Lille at Anfield Stadium, Liverp꧋ool, England.

7/10
UEFA Champions League soccer Liverpool vs Lille - Mohamed Salah
Champions League 2024–25: Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's first goal | Photo: AP/Jon Super

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, celebrates with 🗹his teammate Darwin Nunez after scoring his side's first goal during the Champions League, opening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Lille at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England.

8/10
UEFA Champions League soccer Liverpool vs Lille -
Champions ⛄League 2024–25: Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring | Photo: AP/Jon Super

💎Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Champions League, o𝔉pening phase soccer match between Liverpool and Lille at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England.

9/10
UEFA Champions League soccer Liverpool vs Lille - Gabriel Gudmundsson
Champions League 💯2024–25: Mohamed Salah challenges for the ball with Gabriel Gudmundsson | Photo: AP/Jon Super

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah challen൲ges for the ball with Lille's Gabriel Gudmundsson during the Champions League, opening phase soccer ma🎃tch between Liverpool and Lille at Anfield Stadium, in Liverpool, England.

10/10
UEFA Champions League soccer Liverpool vs Lille - Darwin Nunez
Champions League 2024–25: Liverpool's Darwin Nunez controls the ball | Photo: AP/Jon Super

Liverpool's Darwin Nunez controls the ball during the Champions League, opening phase soccer match between 🍌Liverpool and Lille at Anfiel𓂃d Stadium, Liverpool, England.

CLOSE