Salah shines as Liverpool secure Champions League last 16 spot with victory over Lille

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Mohamed Salah reached another milestone as Liverpool secured their place in the Champions League last 16 with a victory over Lille.

The Egyptian forward scored his 50th European goal for the club, finishing superbly after Curtis Jones’ precise through ball. His 34th-minute strike broke Lille’s resilience, which had held firm during the early stages of the game.

Despite Salah’s opener, Lille, unbeaten in 21 games across all competitions, showed their fighting spirit and kept the contest alive. Moments after Aissa Mandi was sent off for a second yellow card, Jonathan David equalized with a composed finish.

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However, Liverpool quickly regained the lead when Harvey Elliott’s deflected strike from the edge of the box found the bottom corner. Lille struggled to respond as Liverpool piled on the pressure, with Darwin Nunez having a late goal ruled out for offside.

Though Lille had a few chances, including a blocked Hakon Haraldsson effort late on, they were second-best in key moments. The Ligue 1 side could not match Liverpool’s intensity in the final third as the Reds maintained their perfect record.

Liverpool’s efficient display secured their seventh consecutive win in the competition, cementing their spot in the knockout stages. While they aim to finish top of the group, Lille must now fight for a place in the top eight.

With challenging domestic fixtures ahead, Liverpool may rotate in their final group game against PSV. Meanwhile, Lille will hope to secure a direct spot in the last 16 with a strong finish in their campaign.

Tags: Harvey Elliott, Mohamed Salah, Liverpool, Lille, #ChampionsLeague, #UCL, Champions League, last 16, PSV, Aissa Mandi, Curtis Jones, Jonathan David, Hakon Haraldsson, #LIVLOSC, #YNWA, #NewsRoundTheClock, #nrtcnewsnigeria, #nrtcnews, #nrtcsports, #nrtcnigeria.