Liverpool Aims for Last 16 Spot as They Host Unbeaten Lille

LIVERPOOL, England — Liverpool will look to secure their place in the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday night as they host Lille at Anfield. The Reds need just a point to advance, but face a formidable opponent in Lille, who are unbeaten in their last 21 matches across all competitions.

Manager Arne Slot has made four changes to the starting lineup, with Darwin Nunez leading the attack alongside Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz. Nunez, who scored twice off the bench in Liverpool’s recent Premier League win over Brentford, is expected to play a key role in the absence of the injured Diogo Jota. “At the moment, we’ve got four attackers that are top-fit and able to start the game, and Darwin is one of them,” Slot said in his pre-match press conference.

Liverpool’s defense will be anchored by Virgil van Dijk and young talent Jarell Quansah, while Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas occupy the full-back positions. In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Curtis Jones will look to control the tempo against a Lille side known for their resilience.

Lille, currently eighth in the league-phase standings, are without several key players, including Tiago Santos and Samuel Umtiti. However, they remain a threat, with Jonathan David and Gabriel Gudmundsson leading their attack. Head coach Bruno Genesio emphasized his team’s ambition, stating, “We’ll approach the game with ambition, with this desire to play our own football.”

Liverpool, who have won all six of their league-phase matches so far, are in a strong position to progress. However, Slot warned against complacency, noting Lille’s impressive form. “It may not be a straightforward night,” he said. “But we should be strong enough to get the job done.”

The match kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT, with Liverpool aiming to maintain their perfect record and secure a spot in the knockout stages.