Liverpool Secures Champions League Knockout Stage After Lille Victory

Liverpool secured their place in the Champions League's last 16 by defeating Lille 2-1, marking a historic achievement as the first team to qualify under the new format. Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the 34th minute, netting his 50th European goal for the club, but Lille equalized shortly after through Jonathan David despite being reduced to 10 men. Harvey Elliott restored Liverpool's lead with a deflected strike just five minutes later, ensuring Liverpool's seventh consecutive victory in the competition. The win comes as Barcelona completed a dramatic comeback against Benfica, highlighting the intense competition in the group stage. Liverpool's head coach, Arne Slot, now has the opportunity to rest players in their final group match against PSV Eindhoven. Overall, the match showcased Liverpool's resilience and Salah's continued excellence on the European stage.