Preview: Liverpool vs. Lille
Yesterday at 04:30 PM
The Reds look to wrap up top spot in the Champions League.
Liverpool vs Lille
| Tuesday, January 21st |
Champions League | Anfield
8PM BST / 3PM ET
After an injury time brace from Darwin Núñez against Brentford got Liverpool back on track in the Premier League at the weekend, extending their lead at the top of the table to six points with a game in hand, the Reds turn their attention to the Champions League, where a win tomorrow would all but guarantee they finish at the top of that table as well.
Lille arrive at Anfield tomorrow for only the second time in club history, having been beaten 3-0 there in the Europa League back in 2010, towards the end of Rafa Benitez's reign, and they arrive in good form, on a run of 21 games unbeaten in all competitions, undefeated since they lost three on the trot back in early September.
Currently third in Ligue 1 and eighth in the Champions League, les Doges have wins over Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid — home and away, respectively — this season, and will fancy having a go at another giant slaying, as manager Bruno Génésio aims to take the club out of the group stage for only the third time in their history.
Right-back Tiago Santos and striker Matias Fernandez-Pardo both miss out through injuries, tricky right winger Edon Zhegrova is a doubt, but top scorer and long-time alleged Liverpool target Jonathan David will lead the line.
Projected Liverpool Lineup (4-3-3)
Alisson; Bradley, Konaté, Quansah, Robertson; Endo, Jones, Elliott; Chiesa, Núñez, Salah
For the Reds, a little bit of rotation wouldn't go amiss, as qualification to the knockout stages has already been secured, and a number of Arne Slot's main starters have accumulated significant minutes for this time of year.
As such, don't be surprised to see the likes of Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah in the back line, while Andy Robertson should be back in the XI after being spelled by Kostas Tsimikas on the weekend. Joe Gomez remains unavailable through injury.
In midfield, a rare start for Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott would be very much welcome, with Curtis Jones rounding out the three, as the likes of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have their play time managed.
Up top, Darwin Núñez should start in Diogo Jota's injury absence as he looks to build on the momentum of his match winning performance on Saturday, while Federico Chiesa could be in line for only his second start since arriving on Merseyside in summer. Mohamed Salah will play every minute forever, as he chases further advancement in various record books.
What the Managers Said
Arne Slot: "Looking at their recent games, their style, I am expecting an open game. They press high and are not afraid to carry it out from the back, so it is a change of styles compared to what we've faced lately."
Bruno Génésio: "They pack a real punch in attack. It is not for nothing that they are top in the Champions League and in the Premier League. They're a complete team. We can only admire what the coach and team are doing. They are so consistent."
The Officials (GER)
Referee: Felix Zwayer
Assistant referees: Robert Kempter, Christian Dietz
Fourth official: Florian Badstübner
VAR: Bastian Dankert, Sören Storks
Kickoff is set for 8PM GMT/3PM ET tomorrow, and television listings for the match can be found on LiveSoccerTV.
In the meantime, and as always, we'll be keeping you updated with all the buildup to the game, including team news as it's released, our live matchday thread, and post-match recaps from The Liverpool Offside staff. If you want to join the discussion, sign up for an SB Nation account to have your say on the action as it happens.
