Liverpool cruised to a convincing 3-0 triumph against Marseille on Wednesday evening, propelling themselves into fourth position in the Champions League table.
The victory at the Stade Velodrome significantly boosted the Reds’ prospects of securing a top-eight finish, which would allow them to bypass the knockout play-off round.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s ingenious set-piece broke the deadlock, before an unfortunate own goal from goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli doubled the advantage.
Substitute Cody Gakpo then wrapped up proceedings with a late strike.
Dominik Szoboszlai’s ingenious set-piece broke the deadlock
|
REUTERS
Captain Virgil van Dijk, making his 350th appearance for the club, praised the team’s collective effort: “Everyone put a shift in and that’s how it should be.”
The Hungarian midfielder’s moment of brilliance arrived in first-half stoppage time, catching Marseille completely off guard.
Rather than floating the ball over the defensive barrier, Szoboszlai rolled his effort underneath the jumping Leonardo Balerdi, finding the inside of the post.
The goal marked his second direct free-kick of the campaign, making him the first Liverpool player to achieve that feat since Trent Alexander-Arnold during the 2022/23 season.
Liverpool have given themselves a fine chance of finishing in a top-eight position
|
REUTERS
It also continued an impressive European run for Szoboszlai, who has now contributed either a goal or assist in each of his last five continental fixtures.
Mohamed Salah made his first start since late November, when Liverpool suffered a humiliating 4-1 home defeat to PSV Eindhoven.
His subsequent absence from the team sparked those explosive remarks about being “thrown under the bus”, hinting at a fractured relationship with manager Arne Slot. The Africa Cup of Nations provided a convenient interval.
Against Marseille, the Egyptian was deployed in an unfamiliar 4-2-2-2 system alongside Hugo Ekitike, with Florian Wirtz and Szoboszlai operating as dual playmakers behind them.
Though Salah appeared in sync with his teammates, his influence proved far from decisive. One glaring miss saw him scuff wide with only Rulli to beat.
Mohamed Salah was thrown straight into action after returning from Afcon
|
REUTERS
Jeremie Frimpong’s driving run along the byline in the 72nd minute brought welcome relief for the visitors. His cutback took a deflection before clipping Rulli and trickling over the line.
Gakpo then applied the finishing touch in the 92nd minute, curling a low shot into the far corner with what proved to be the final action of the match.
The result stretched Liverpool’s unbeaten sequence to 13 matches, a remarkable turnaround from their earlier struggles this season.
