Liverpool manager Arne Slot had a lot of praise for the match referee of Barcelona and Benfica's UCL match following Barcelona's 5-4 win.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE football has returned for the penultimate matchround of the league stage. And Liverpool are back in action tonight at home to Lille as they close in on confirming their automatic

Liverpool defeated Lille 2-1 to collect their seventh win in as many matches while Barcelona produced a brilliant comeback against Benfica to collect a 5-4 win from 4-2 down. Both former champions are assured of a place in the knockouts as a result of their latest victories.

Liverpool and Barcelona booked their spots in the last 16 of the Champions League with victories in their penultimate games against 10-man Lille and Benfica respectively. Arne Slot's men maintained their 100% record and are top of the 36-team table with 21 points,

FC Barcelona's heroic comeback win over Benfica in the Champions League on Tuesday could end up being worth over $50 million to the club.

Meanwhile, Liverpool confirmed a top-eight finish in the Champions League league phase and therefore an automatic place in the last 16 after edging 10-man Lille at Anfield. Goals from Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott earned Liverpool a 2-1 victory over 10-man Lille to make it seven wins from seven for Arne Slot's side.

Liverpool secured their spot in the Champions League last 16 with a 2-1 victory over Lille on Tuesday, while Barcelona staged a thrilling 5-4

Arne Slot is doing an exceptional job so far with Liverpool, having taking over from Jurgen Klopp in the summer, the Premier League and Champions League going swimmingly

Barça top the overall charts in Europe in terms of goalscoring but also they are top scorer in La Liga with 52, they lead the Champions League ranking with 26 goals in just seven matches and in the Copa del Rey no-one has scored more than their nine goals so far in the competition.

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Unfortunately for the ex-Arsenal man, a red card followed in the final against Real Madrid, though his side did go on to win 5-2. It meant a suspension for the draw against Getafe, with the Benfica display being his return and with a far-from-ideal way to mark it.