(Football news) The Merseysiders are first in the league phase, and their 1-0 win against Girona on December 10 ensured that they maintained their perfect record of six victories from six, while Lille are eighth with 13 points and currently occupy the final automatic qualification spot for the round of 16.
Liverpool were fortunate to keep a clean sheet against Girona considering they faced eight shots from inside the penalty area and conceded nearly 1.25 xG, and it should be noted that they produced less open play xG than their Spanish counterparts that day.
Liverpool are the only team in the Champions League to have triumphed in all six of their matches in the league phase, and they also boast the competition’s joint best defence having conceded just once.
Arne Slot’s team is already guaranteed a round of 16 playoff spot but needs just one point more to secure one of eight automatic qualification spots, though they could lose their two remaining games and still advance.
The hosts are also six points clear of second-placed Arsenal in the Premier League while having a game in hand after they defeated Brentford 2-0 at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday afternoon, while the Gunners dropped points against Aston Villa on the same day.
The Reds’ form in the past few weeks has been mixed given they have won two, drawn two, and lost one of their five most recent outings, scoring nine goals and conceding on four occasions.
Though Slot’s side have been held to a stalemate in two of their last four matches at home, they did win their prior nine at Anfield and are unbeaten at home in 13.
Meanwhile, Lille beat Sturm Graz 3-2 in their previous Champions League clash on December 11, a game in which they squandered a 2-0 lead and only won thanks to Hakon Arnar Haraldsson’s 81st-minute winner.
The visitors are third in Ligue 1 with 32 points after 18 matchweeks and occupy the league’s final automatic qualification spot for the Champions League in 2025-26.
Boss Bruno Genesio’s side have only been beaten once in their six fixtures in the Champions League and are undefeated in their last five in the tournament, winning four times in that period.
Les Nordistes are in fact unbeaten in their past 21 matches in all competitions, achieving victory on 12 occasions.
Lille have won two and drawn one of their three most recent games away from home and have not lost on the road since September 2024, a stretch of 11 matches.
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