Match Summary
Liverpool weathered the storm of the first leg to overcome Lille 3-1 on aggregate and progress to the quarter finals of the Europa League.
With Alberto Aquilani out with a virus, and Maxi Rodriguez ineligable to play in Europe for the Reds, back came Lucas and Dirk Kuyt into the starting line-up. Albert Riera was dropped from the squad after controversial comments on Spanish radio earlier in the day.
Trailing 1-0 from the first leg a week ago, the Reds started brightly and a meandering run forward from Lucas lead to the Brazilian being tripped in the penalty area and Steven Gerrard duly converted the spot kick in front of the Kop.
The Reds looked to have finally found some form with two victories in the space of four days, playing some neat attacking football which is a sight for sore eyes.
Fernando Torres gave Liverpool the lead in the tie just minutes into the second half with a trademark finish from the Spaniard at the Anfield Road End, before ensuring the victory and a rousing 3-0 win on the night by tucking away a loose ball following great play by Kuyt at Gerrard.
The draw for the Europa League quarter-finals is made on Friday morning, where Liverpool could face either Fulham, Valenica, Atletico Madrid, Hamburg, Wolfsburg, Standard Liege or Benfica.
Team Line-ups and Substitutions
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Agger (Kyrgiakos 90+1), Insua, Carragher, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Torres, (Ngog 90+2), Kuyt, Babel (Benayoun 80)
Subs Cavalieri, Kyrgiakos, Degen, Kelly, Benayoun, Ngog, El Zhar.
Lille: Landreau, Emerson, Beria, Rami, Balmont (Aubameyang 71), Cabaye, Obraniak, Chedjou Fongang, Mavuba, Hazard (Vandam 86), Frau (Toure 58).
Subs: Butelle, Vandam, Souare, Dumont, Souquet, Aubameyang, Toure.
Ref: Rizzoli
Att: 38,139
