ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL // Liverpool has wrapped up its spot in the Champions League last-16 with a match to spare after it overcame Lille to make it seven wins from seven in the competition. It needs just one point against PSV to guarantee top spot.

Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead just after the half-hour mark when he was set through on goal by a good Curtis Jones through-pass. Beating the outrushing goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, it was the Egyptian's 50th European goal for the Reds — another game; another milestone.

When Aissa Mendi was sent off, it looked like Liverpool would cruise to victory, though Jonathan David clinically made it 1-1. Arne Slot's men then went back in front via Harvey Elliott. Here are the four things Liverpool.com spotted as the game unfolded.

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Darwin Nunez dilemma

After his heroics at the weekend, this was a major chance for Darwin Nunez to build on the feel-good factor that he set himself up for. Instead, though, he was unable to really show much in terms of attacking intent. The Uruguayan worked hard but his biggest impact was defensively: in the first half, he made the most tackles of anyone on the field, but didn't have a shot.

That is not something to be sniffed at and it is very much a major part of the number nine role but the goals will need to flow if Nunez is to nail down a place. It would be no shock if Luis Diaz was down the middle at the weekend with Cody Gakpo coming back in. If that happens, he would be back to square one again in terms of building momentum.

Mixed midfield news

Dominik Szoboszlai has been in exceptional form lately, leading to Curtis Jones being out of the starting XI more often than he would like. Here, he was allowed the chance to step in for Alexis Mac Allister.

Picking up a knock when he landed awkwardly in a challenge, he hobbled around for the final few minutes of the first half after having played well to that point, clearly desperate to run off the discomfort. He was taken off after 45 minutes and the hope will be that it was only a precaution.

Elliott took his chance when he was called upon while Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister cruised through their half each without a hitch. Aside from Jones coming off, that was all Slot could have asked for.

Defensive record set as Jarell Quansah impresses

Ibrahima Konate said during his pre-match press conference that his partnership with Virgil van Dijk is the best in Europe this season, but Jarell Quansah was selected here for rotation purposes — with the Warrington-born defender making his first start in the Champions League. Confident on the ball and keeping Jonathan David quiet, he impressed.

Quansah has not had an easy season by any stretch, being hooked at half-time against Ipswich Town on day one in the Premier League and finding minutes hard to come by in the period since. Here, though, he showed why he remains a solid option. That will be vital for Slot with so many matches to come and Joe Gomez still "weeks" away from a comeback.

Needing to go 36 minutes without letting one in here to set a new club record for the longest time without conceding a goal in Europe, Liverpool achieved that. In the process, it beat its previous best of 572 minutes, set under Rafael Benitez in the 2005-06 edition of the competition. Quansah has now played his part and he could do nothing with the goal that Lille did score.

Champions League state of play

Liverpool had won each of its last six Champions League games, including the last five without conceding a goal, heading into this one. It should have been more comfortable than it was here but you can make those numbers seven and six respectively now.

Liverpool needed just a point from this game to guarantee a place in the last-16 but the team that Slot selected — starting with the indispensable Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah, for instance — suggested he places some value in finishing as high as possible in the standings. It would be impressive to win every match but because Barcelona came back from 4-2 down to win 5-4, first place in the group phase is not quite secured.

Lille is third in Ligue 1 — behind only PSG and Marseille — but it has been on a 21-match unbeaten run in all competitions, including beating Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. It has some top players, too (not least Jonathan David, who is available on a free transfer in the summer). Heading into this round of matches, only Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski had scored more in the Champions League this season. Liverpool, however, was able to win without too much stress, even if it only won by a one-goal margin.