Explaining Liverpool’s Champions League permutations before the Lille match

Liverpool need a point against Lille on Tuesday night to secure their place in the Champions League last 16.

The Reds will welcome the French side to Anfield for their seventh match of the current league phase, with an 8pm GMT kick-off.

Arne Slot’s team has been perfect in the competition so far, winning all six of their matches. They are three points ahead at the top of the standings and are assured of at least a spot in the knockout play-offs.

A draw against Lille would guarantee a top-eight finish for Liverpool and automatic progression to the last 16.

Depending on results elsewhere, Liverpool could still advance to the last 16 even with a loss to Lille, as only 11 of the other 35 teams still have a chance to surpass them in the table with two games remaining.

Slot’s squad will also travel to the Netherlands to face PSV Eindhoven on January 29 in their final match of the league phase.

Clubs finishing in 9th to 24th place in the final standings will compete in two-legged play-offs to reach the last 16. Teams finishing 25th and lower will be eliminated from European competition for the 2024-25 season.

The knockout play-offs will take place on February 11/12 and February 18/19, with the last-16 ties scheduled for March 4/5 and March 11/12.

The top eight finishers in the league phase will be seeded for the last 16, facing a qualifier from the knockout play-offs. These seeded teams will play the second leg of their last-16 match at home.

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Omar Marmoush comments released as ‘Liverpool target confirms transfer agreement’

In a live update on the potential transfer saga of Omar Marmoush, it appears that the Egyptian forward could be heading to Manchester City this month, although Eintracht Frankfurt has yet to receive an official offer for the player, who is having a stellar season.

Speaking to the press, Frankfurt’s sporting director Markus Krosche confirmed, “There is still no inquiry, no email, no offer. Our intention is to keep the squad together.” This comes amid growing speculation linking Marmoush to top Premier League clubs, with reports from Sky Sports suggesting the 25-year-old has agreed a deal in principle to join Manchester City.

Marmoush has been in sensational form this season, with 18 goals and 12 assists in 24 appearances across all competitions for Frankfurt, making him one of Europe’s standout performers. Only Mohamed Salah has more goal contributions than Marmoush in the top five leagues. The forward, who plays alongside Salah for the Egypt national team, looks more likely to move to Manchester City than Liverpool at this stage.

Negotiations between City and Frankfurt are reportedly set to begin soon, as Marmoush has reportedly agreed to be part of Pep Guardiola’s squad. Frankfurt is believed to value the player at around $82 million, but Manchester City is expected to push for a deal closer to $52 million to $62 million. Frankfurt is likely to reject any offers significantly below their asking price.

City, who are currently without a recognized backup for Erling Haaland after selling Julian Alvarez to Atletico Madrid last summer, are looking to bolster their attacking options. While Haaland has scored 21 goals in 27 appearances this season, Phil Foden is the next highest scorer for City with just five goals, two of which have come in the Premier League. The addition of Marmoush could provide a valuable alternative, offering more versatility, agility, and a different playing style compared to Haaland—similar to the profile of Alvarez.