Liverpool’s penultimate Champions League match for the first stage of the competition takes them to Marseille, and it could have a big bearing on whether they avoid the play-off round.
Marseille vs. Liverpool
Champions League, League Phase (7) | Orange Velodrome
January 21, 2026 | 8pm (GMT)
The frustration over Liverpool’s season continued thanks to the draw against Burnley, but many will appreciate moving swiftly onto the next one, which is against Marseille on Wednesday evening.
It is Liverpool’s first trip back to France since their win over PSG last season, and here’s all you need to know.
1. Mo Salah has returned after AFCON
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, January 20, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC. (Photo by Jessica Hornby/Propaganda)
Salah has missed the last seven games due to his involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations, but was back in training for the first time on Tuesday and later travelled with the squad to France.
During his absence, Liverpool did not lose, but they have drawn each of their last four games in the Premier League and could do with the Egyptian returning with form in front of goal.
Liverpool’s No. 11 played 570 minutes across six matches for Egypt, but it remains to be seen if he will be considered for the XI having only just returned to Merseyside.
2. 20-man Liverpool squad travels – Ibrahima Konate in doubt
Liverpool named a 20-man squad for their trip to Marseille, but Konate was not listed among his teammates after missing training on Tuesday.
According to reports, the centre-back is already in France for family reasons and it remains to be seen whether he will rejoin the squad ahead of the match.
If he cannot be involved, Joe Gomez will be expected to line up alongside Virgil van Dijk for only the second time this season from the start.
Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni remain sidelined, with Slot otherwise having his full complement of players.
Liverpool’s 20-man squad vs. Marseille
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Mamardashvili, Woodman
Defenders: Van Dijk, Gomez, Frimpong, Kerkez, Robertson
Midfielders: Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Jones, Endo, Nyoni
Forwards: Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike, Gakpo, Chiesa, Ngumoha
3. What can Liverpool expect from Marseille?
BRIGHTON & HOVE, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 8, 2023: Brighton & Hove Albion's manager Roberto De Zerbi before the FA Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Liverpool FC at the American Express Community Stadium. The game ended in a 2-2 draw. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
• Manager: Roberto De Zerbi
• Ligue 1 position: 3rd
• Champions League position: 16th
The French side are currently eight points adrift of Ligue 1 leaders Lens heading into the Champions League meeting with Liverpool, and warmed up for the clash with a 5-2 win over the weekend.
They led 4-1 at half-time and De Zerbi was able to rotate several players ahead of the visit of Arne Slot‘s side, which included introducing former Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Igor Paixao, meanwhile, will be familiar to Slot after working together at Feyenoord, while you will also recognise the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Emerson and the disgraced Mason Greenwood.
Their lack of injuries means De Zerbi could name an unchanged lineup for what is also an important match for the French outfit having accumulated nine points from their six Champions League games.
Possible Marseille XI: Rulli; Murillo, Balerdi, Medina, Emerson; O’Riley, Hojbjerg; Weah, Greenwood, Paixao; Aubameyang
4. Liverpool’s Champions League permutations
3D36C73 Liverpool, UK. 4th Nov, 2025. Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool celebrates scoring their first goal during the Liverpool vs Real Madrid UEFA Champions League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture credit should read: James Baylis/Sportimage Credit: Sportimage Ltd/Alamy Live News
There are only two games remaining in the league phase of the competition, and Liverpool currently sit ninth with 12 points.
They are likely to need at least four points from the available six to avoid the two-legged playoff in February, with 16 points the cut-off for the top eight last season.
A win and a draw against Marseille and Qarabag (Jan 28) could be enough to get the job done, but with nine teams separated by only two points heading into the penultimate fixtures, Liverpool may need all six.
A single point, however, will at least guarantee a place in the knockouts.
5. Predicted Liverpool XI
There will be a decision for Slot to make over the involvement of Salah, who has not started any of the last 12 games for the club, seven due to his AFCON involvement.
It feels somewhat unlikely the Dutchman would immediately turn to the 33-year-old, so it is possible that he makes just two changes to his lineup from the weekend.
Gomez would be the one to replace Konate if the Frenchman is not available, while Alexis Mac Allister could replace Curtis Jones in midfield after just 12 minutes off the bench on Saturday.
Predicted LFC XI: Alisson; Frimpong, Gomez, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
6. Travelling advice for Liverpool supporters
FRANKFURT, GERMANY - Wednesday, October 22, 2025: Liverpool supporters during the UEFA Champions League match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Liverpool FC at the Waldstadion. Liverpool won 5-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
If you’re heading to Marseille for the match, there are a lot of guidelines for you to follow – and just know they are utterly ridiculous – no fan should have to think about these things.
The advice from Liverpool includes not wearing anything that would identify you as a supporter and to avoid the Old Port area on matchday.
Supporters will need to travel to the stadium via the Metro (via Joliette Station) and arrive at the meeting point by 4.30pm.
The away end will be held back after the match for at least 40 minutes and the process of supporters leaving via the metro could take up to two hours.
Take care of yourselves. You can find more information via the club here.
7. Arne Slot’s pre-Marseille press conference
After arriving in Marseille on the eve of the match, Slot will host a press conference alongside one of the members of his travelling squad.
You can watch live or the replay on our YouTube channel here!
8. Curtis Jones is one card away from suspension
LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, January 4, 2026: Liverpool's Curtis Jones during the FA Premier League match between Fulham FC and Liverpool FC at Craven Cottage. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Curtis Jones will miss the visit of Qarabag next week if he is shown a yellow card in this match, having already been cautioned twice.
He was shown a yellow card against Galatasaray and Inter, and the competition’s rules state players are suspended after three cautions that did not result in a red card, and any subsequent odd-numbered yellow card (fifth, seventh, etc.).
It would not be the worst game to miss, however, as cards are carried until the completion of the quarter-finals.
9. Who is the referee for Marseille vs. Liverpool?
ANDORRA LA VELLA, ANDORRA - Tuesday, September 9, 2014: Referee Slavko Vincic during the opening UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match between Andorra and Wales at the Camp d’Esports del M.I. Consell General. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Slavko Vincic, from Slovenia, is in charge of this fixture.
He has overseen Liverpool four different times, and the Reds have won all three away games including the last one, 7-1 at Rangers in 2022, when he has been in charge.
Vincic has only once refereed Marseille, which ended in a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham in September 2022.
VAR is in operation, as normal.
10. How to watch and follow Marseille vs. Liverpool
Liverpool’s trip to Marseille will be shown live on TNT Sports 1 for those of you in the UK, with coverage starting at 7pm (UK) ahead of kickoff at 8pm.
If you can’t follow the live action on TV or simply prefer biased commentary, then you can keep up to date with Henry Jackson on This Is Anfield’s liveblog from 7.15pm.
Into these, Reds!