Hello and welcome everyone to The Athletic for our live coverage of Liverpool vs Lille. The Champions League is back today after a more than month-long hiatus and the fixture we're focusing on pits the Premier League leaders against one of the high-flying sides in Ligue 1.

Liverpool cruised from there and secured not only the win, but a direct berth to the round of 16 in the Champions League. Skipping the first round of the knockout stage will give the Reds time to regroup and focus on maintaining their pace in the Premier League amid challengers.

Liverpool will play Lille at Anfield on Tuesday evening in the UEFA Champions League, in their penultimate league phase match. READ MORE: Liverpool Monitoring B

Arne Slot praises Mohamed Salah after he scored his 50th European goal for Liverpool in the 2-1 win over Lille at Anfield.

Liverpool boss Arne Slot became just the second manager in Uefa Champions League history to win each of his first seven games in charge of a club, after Hansi Flick with Bayern Munich (won first seven between 2019 and 2021).

Tim Spiers recaps the best talking points from Tuesday's Champions League action, as Liverpool and Barcelona secured spots in the last 16

Liverpool should keep a forward at Anfield unless a massive £100m bid arrives for him this year, according to one of their former stars.

Liverpool and Barcelona know they're in the Champions League last 16 with a host of other teams - including Arsenal and Aston Villa - ensuring they will play knockout football

By Lori Ewing LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) -Liverpool booked their spot in the last 16 of the Champions League with a 2-1 victory over 10-man Lille on Tuesday at Anfield, thanks to goals from talisman Mohamed Salah and substitute Harvey Elliott.

Liverpool have won all six of their League Phase games so far, sitting pretty at the top of the table. To confirm their spot in the top eight of the table, which guarantees a spot in the last 16 without going through the playoff round, they need a point against French upstarts Lille on Tuesday.