Portugal, Estadio do SL Benfica Lisbon 20. January 2025 Uefa Champions League phase 2024/25 Matchday 7, Pressekonferenz , Training S.L.Benfica - FC Barcelona, Barca v.l. Trainer Hansi Flick FC Barcelona bei der Pressekonferenz Copyright: HMBxMedia/FernandoxSoares
Liverpool face french side Lille on Tuesday night in the Champions League.
The Reds have six wins out of six games in the new Champions League format. They top the group phase with an impressive 13 goals scored and just one goal conceded. Arne Slot has guided his team to big wins over Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan.
The Reds are still in contention to win all competitions so far, but will have to overturn a 1-0 deficit to Spurs in the League Cup to reach the final. Liverpool bounced back this weekend with a hard fought 2-0 win away to Brentford. Slot’s side experienced a very brief blip early in the month after dropping points to Manchester United and Nottingham Forest in recent weeks.
Quiz: Can you name the team Liverpool sold these players to?
Champions League winner makes Liverpool claim
Liverpool host Ligue 1 side Lille at Anfield on Tuesday night, with the Reds already having secured qualification to the knockout rounds. The French side are also on a 21-match unbeaten streak, and will provide a tough test on Tuesday.
It is very early on, but the Reds have established themselves as favourites to win the Champions League. FC Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has strengthened this claim as he called Liverpool ‘incredible’:
“The Champions League is one of the most difficult competitions to win, but we have to try.
“When I look at Liverpool I see a team with incredible power. They are one of my favourite teams in the world right now. We are doing well but there are very good teams that are also doing well and we are contending on three fronts (Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey).”
Barcelona are second in the Champions League group phase, just three points behind Arne Slot’s side.
Can the Reds win the Champions League?
Nobody really expected Liverpool to come this far under Arne Slot. Topping the Premier League and Champions League while going strong in the cup competitions is a testament to the Dutchman’s coaching ability.
For the Reds to go far in the competition, they will need to rely on their rotation options down the stretch. The likes of Darwin Nunez, Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota will have to step up to take the burden off of Mohamed Salah upfront. Nunez showed his quality last weekend as he came off the bench to score a brace against Brentford.
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