Seven games, seven wins.
Tuesday night's 2-1 win over Lille ensured Arne Slot's Liverpool continued their 100 per cent winning record in this season's new group stage as Harvey Elliott's deflected try sank the French side at Anfield. It means the Merseysiders have secured a place in the round of 16 with a game to spare, meaning they will miss next month's play-off round.
Not only that, it secured a place in the top two, with only a last-minute winner from Barcelona – in their unlikely 5-4 comeback win over Benfica – denying the Reds top spot with a game to play. Not that Barca's fightback bothered Slot in the least, as his focus was mainly on not dropping below eighth place and having to deal with extra games: “For me the most important thing tonight is that we were able to skip a round, especially the worth it.”
And so, regardless of whether Liverpool finish first or second, Slot's side have just been given a three-way Champions League advantage for the rest of the competition.
Few clubs treat knockout football and matches on home soil as enthusiastically as Liverpool. Few enjoy memories and iconic moments at home in the same way. Few speak in such terms about the power of their home base.
And that power will now be extended to Slot, as his latest Anfield incarnation aims for European glory in his debut campaign at the helm.
Liverpool now go into the last 16 with a big seeding advantage, theoretically giving them an easier draw.
More importantly, by being among the top two, Liverpool will secure home advantage in the second leg tie in EVERY MATCH of the knockout stages. With their stellar performances in the group stages, the Reds have set themselves up well to progress in the competition, with the comfort of Anfield's support when they need it most.
They will also avoid a clash with Barcelona until the final as both are top seeds.
And with this year's final taking place at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena, some might say you'll want to stick close to Bayern in the draw as they still have a chance of making the top eight. This approach would give them two chances to beat them, including a match at Anfield, rather than facing the daunting prospect of a final on home turf.
However, the full extent of the challenge posed by each side of the draw will only become clear once the Champions League table is finalized next week and all the top 24 teams have been confirmed.
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