Liverpool vs Lille will determine their place in the last 16 of the Champions League. The match will be played on Wednesday (22/1/2025) early morning at Anfield.

The Reds are top of the group, with a 1-0 win over Girona on December 10 ensuring they finished with six wins from six games. Lille, meanwhile, are eighth on 13 points, currently occupying the final spot that guarantees automatic qualification for the last 16.

Liverpool were fortunate to keep a clean sheet against Girona, despite being flooded with eight shots from inside the penalty area.

The Reds are the only team in the Champions League to have achieved a perfect win in the group stage, with the best defence conceding only one goal.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has already secured his side’s place in the last 16, but they need just one more point to secure one of the eight automatic places. Even if Lille lose their remaining two games, they can still progress.

Domestically, Liverpool are also six points clear of second-placed Arsenal in the Premier League after a 2-0 win over Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday, while Arsenal failed to pick up a point against Aston Villa on the same day.

However, Liverpool’s form in recent weeks has been mixed, with two wins, two draws and one defeat in their last five games, scoring nine goals and conceding four.

On the other hand, Lille claimed a 3-2 win over Sturm Graz in their last Champions League game on December 11, despite throwing away a 2-0 lead and only winning thanks to Hakon Arnar Haraldsson’s 81st-minute winner.

Lille are currently third in Ligue 1 with 32 points from 18 games and are in the final position to qualify automatically for the 2025-26 Champions League.

Bruno Genesio’s side have lost just one of their six Champions League games and are unbeaten in their last five in the competition, winning four.

Les Nordistes are also unbeaten in their last 21 games in all competitions, with 12 wins in that period.

Lille have also won two and drawn one of their last three away games, and are unbeaten in their last 11 away games stretching back to September 2024.

Joe Gomez is certain to miss Liverpool’s clash with Lille and is not expected to return until early February. Ibrahima Konaté is also unlikely to feature given his long injury history, so Wataru Endo is likely to partner Virgil van Dijk at the back.

Diogo Jota remains a doubt with injury, and if he is absent, Luis Díaz is likely to lead the line alongside Mohamed Salah and Federico Chiesa.

Harvey Elliott is in contention to start in attacking midfield after his impressive display against Brentford, and could partner Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch in midfield.

Lille are set to be without defender Tiago Santos for the rest of the season, while Samuel Umtiti is not expected to return until late January.

Lille are likely to field a backline of Thomas Meunier, Bafode Diakité, Alexsandro Ribeiro and Ismaily, with Benjamin Andre and Ayyoub Bouaddi in the holding midfield positions. Ethan Mbappé and Nabil Bentaleb are certain to miss out.

In attack, Genesio is likely to field Mitchel Bakker, Remy Cabella and Osame Sahraoui as ball suppliers for striker Jonathan David, with Edon Zhegrova and Mathias Fernandez-Pardo unavailable.

Liverpool vs Lille Predicted Lineups

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Endo, Van Dijk, Robertson; Jones, Gravenberch; Salah, Elliott, Chiesa; Diaz

Lille: Chevalier; Meunier, Diakite, Ribeiro, Ismaily; Andre, Bouaddi; Bakker, Cabella, Sahraoui; David