Liverpool moved significantly closer to automatic qualification for the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday night with a commanding 3-0 victory away to Marseille, as Mohamed Salah returned to the starting lineup.
Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring right on the brink of half-time, before a Geronimo Rulli own goal and a late Cody Gakpo finish ensured a comfortable second-half outcome for the six-time European champions.
The result extended Liverpool’s unbeaten run to 13 matches and lifted Arne Slot’s side to fourth place in the expanded 36-team standings. A home win against Qarabag at Anfield next week would confirm a top-eight finish and direct passage into the knockout stage.
By contrast, a subdued Marseille performance under Roberto De Zerbi left the French side down in 19th place, meaning they must deliver at Club Brugge in their final fixture to keep hopes of reaching the play-off round alive.
Salah made his first Liverpool start since November, having previously been left out by Slot before going on to help Egypt reach the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals. The Egyptian had accused the club of throwing him “under the bus,” a situation that contributed to his omission from Liverpool’s last Champions League match against Inter Milan.
Liverpool began with intent at the Velodrome, with Joe Gomez heading wide from a corner as he continued his search for a first senior goal. Alexis Mac Allister also threatened, while Marseille briefly thought they had scored through Hugo Ekitike, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
The home side came close again when Amine Gouiri forced Alisson into a sharp save, moments before Salah redirected a Jeremie Frimpong cross onto the roof of the net. Appeals for a Liverpool penalty after a Timothy Weah handball were dismissed, but the visitors eventually broke through in first-half stoppage time.
After winning a free-kick following a foul earlier in the move, Szoboszlai made amends for his missed penalty against Burnley by driving his effort under the jumping wall and beyond Rulli.
Marseille showed greater urgency after the restart, with Alisson denying Mason Greenwood from distance and Ekitike striking the crossbar with a clear chance. Weah then blazed over following a rapid counter, as missed opportunities continued to haunt the hosts.
Liverpool sealed the contest with 18 minutes remaining when Frimpong’s dangerous run and low delivery deflected off Rulli and into his own net. Salah later passed up a clear opening to end his scoring drought, but substitute Gakpo added a third deep into stoppage time to round off the night.
What you should know
Liverpool’s win puts them firmly on course for automatic qualification from the Champions League league phase, with only Qarabag standing between them and a top-eight finish.
Mohamed Salah’s return added balance rather than goals, while Dominik Szoboszlai’s opener proved decisive in shifting momentum.
Marseille’s wastefulness in front of goal left them with little margin for error heading into their final group match, underlining the growing gap in efficiency between both sides.
