Confirm preview: Liverpool vs. Lille – Team News Prediction and Lineups

Liverpool can secure their spot in the Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday when they face French club Lille at Anfield.

Currently leading the group stage, Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Girona on December 10 preserved their perfect record of six wins from six matches. Lille, on the other hand, are in eighth place with 13 points, sitting in the final automatic qualification position for the round of 16.

Match Preview

Liverpool were fortunate to keep a clean sheet against Girona, having faced eight shots from inside the box and conceding nearly 1.25 xG. It’s worth mentioning that they produced a lower open-play xG than their Spanish opponents in that match.

The Reds remain the only team in the Champions League to have won all six of their group-stage games and boast the competition’s joint-best defense, having conceded just once.

Arne Slot’s Lille side have already secured a spot in the round of 16 playoffs but need just one more point to secure an automatic qualification position, though they could still advance even with two losses.

In domestic competition, Liverpool are six points ahead of second-placed Arsenal in the Premier League, with a game in hand, after their 2-0 victory over Brentford on Saturday, while Arsenal dropped points against Aston Villa the same day.

Liverpool’s form has been inconsistent in recent weeks, with two wins, two draws, and one loss in their last five matches, scoring nine goals and conceding four.

Lille, who defeated Sturm Graz 3-2 in their last Champions League match on December 11, had to rely on an 81st-minute goal from Hakon Arnar Haraldsson after nearly squandering a 2-0 lead.

In Ligue 1, Lille are third with 32 points from 18 matches and occupy the final automatic Champions League qualification spot for the 2025-26 season.

Bruno Genesio’s team has only lost once in their last six Champions League games and are unbeaten in their past five, winning four. Lille are also on a 21-match unbeaten streak in all competitions, with 12 wins.

Lille have won two and drawn one of their last three away games and are unbeaten on the road since September 2024, a run of 11 matches.

Team News

Liverpool’s only confirmed absentee is Joe Gomez, who will return in early February. It is unlikely that Slot will risk Ibrahima Konate due to his injury history, so Wataru Endo may partner Virgil van Dijk at center-back.

Diogo Jota is a doubt after picking up a knock, and if he is not fit, Luis Diaz may lead the attack with Mohamed Salah and Federico Chiesa. Harvey Elliott could start in an attacking midfield role after his strong performance against Brentford, with Curtis Jones and Ryan Gravenberch in the midfield.

Lille will be without defender Tiago Santos for the rest of the season, while Samuel Umtiti is expected to return only in late January. Their defense could include Thomas Meunier, Bafode Diakite, Alexsandro Ribeiro, and Ismaily, with Benjamin Andre and Ayyoub Bouaddi in midfield, as Ethan Mbappe and Nabil Bentaleb are unavailable.

Lille’s attack might feature Mitchel Bakker, Remy Cabella, and Osame Sahraoui supporting Jonathan David, as Edon Zhegrova and Mathias Fernandez-Pardo are sidelined.

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

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

Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Lille
Although Liverpool may look slightly disjointed if they make changes to the team that defeated Brentford, their passionate home support should help them secure a win. Lille will present a tough challenge due to their recent strong form, and they may frustrate the Anfield crowd at times, though they are likely to fall short in the end.