Liverpool, currently leading both the Premier League and UEFA Champions League (UCL) tables, are set to resume their European campaign. They boast a flawless record of winning all six of their games so far, along with having one of the best defensive records in the competition, having conceded only one goal. This solitary goal was scored by AC Milan on matchday one in September, resulting in a 3-1 victory for Liverpool. If they manage to maintain this defensive prowess, they could become only the second team in the history of the European Cup/UCL to win six consecutive games without conceding, following in the footsteps of Leeds in the 1969/70 season.
Liverpool’s recent performance against Brentford showcased their ability to secure crucial points through goals from substitute players. This result, a 2-0 victory, bodes well for their upcoming matches. As they return to Anfield, Liverpool will be aiming for their 11th consecutive home win in the UCL group/league phase. Their track record against French opponents is also impressive, having emerged victorious in 13 out of 16 home head-to-head encounters, with one draw and two losses.
Lille’s struggles against English teams confirm their status as underdogs, as they have only won one out of their last ten Champions League matches against them (D2, L7), and they have lost their last six in a row. Their record does not improve when playing away, as they have only won once in their previous nine away matches in England across all competitions (D1, L7).
Manager Bruno Génésio is not concerned about the past because he has completely transformed his team recently. They currently enjoy an impressive unbeaten streak of 21 games, which dates back to September 2024 (W12, D9). This includes being undefeated in their last five Champions League matches since their loss to Sporting CP on matchday one (W4, D1). As a result, they are now in contention for a top-eight finish.
Players to keep an eye on: Alexis Mac Allister is making a comeback after serving a suspension in the UEFA Champions League. He will be eager to make a strong return, as three out of his last four goals for Liverpool have come in home matches at the start of the game. Lille’s strategy will likely focus on getting Jonathan David to score, as he has not been on the losing side in any of his last 28 games where he has found the back of the net (19 wins, 9 draws).
Notable statistic: In their previous 12 matches, Liverpool have only been leading at half-time in four of them.
