Liverpool, Barcelona win to reach Champions League last 16

Liverpool maintained their perfect Champions League record to guarantee a top-two finish in the league phase and automatic last-16 qualification with a 2-1 win over Lille at Anfield on Tuesday night.

Barcelona also came from behind to beat Benfica 5-4 and ensure direct qualification to the Champions League last 16.

Harvey Elliott’s deflected strike secured a seventh consecutive Champions League victory for Liverpool after Jonathan David cancelled out Mohamed Salah’s opener.

Liverpool remain three points clear of Barcelona, who came from 4-2 down to beat Benfica 5-4.

Lille’s first defeat in 22 games in all competitions leaves the French side 11th.

Liverpool will welcome direct progress to the last 16, without the need for a play-off round, with the Premier League leaders still involved in four competitions.

Manager Arne Slot took the chance to rotate with the Reds already all but assured of progress to the next round.

Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley, Curtis Jones, and Darwin Nunez, fresh from his match-winning contribution off the bench, came in from the side that beat Brentford 2-0 on Saturday to open up a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Not for the first time this season, Liverpool’s strength in depth made the difference with another winner from a substitute in Elliott, who has had to wait for his chance to shine since Slot took charge.

EPL: Late Nunez double earns Liverpool win at Brentford as Bournemouth whip Newcastle

Raphinha also struck a dramatic winner in stoppage time as Barcelona came from behind to beat Benfica 5-4 in a wild match on Tuesday.

Benfica were leading 4-2 with under 15 minutes remaining but Barcelona mounted a stunning late comeback to stay three points behind leaders Liverpool.

Vangelis Pavlidis hit a first-half hat-trick for the hosts, in part thanks to two big errors by Barcelona goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.

However, a Robert Lewandowski double from the penalty spot, Eric Garcia’s header and a brace for Raphinha helped Barcelona claim a stunning last-gasp triumph in Lisbon.

Borussia Dortmund’s woes continued on Tuesday after the troubled Bundesliga outfit fell to a 2-1 defeat at Bologna which dented their hopes of direct qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League.

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid are third on 15 points and certain to at least be in the play-offs after a Julian Alvarez brace secured a 2-1 home victory over Bayer Leverkusen in a game both teams finished with 10 men.

Last season’s Europa League winners Atalanta are also guaranteed at least a play-off place after crushing Sturm Graz of Austria 5-0.

Monaco got back to winning ways after some disappointing results had seen their campaign stall, as Wilfried Singo’s early goal proved enough for them to beat Aston Villa 1-0.

The Star