Former Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi will welcome Arne Slot's Liverpool to the Velodrome in the Champions League
Arne Slot reacts
Arne Slot is under pressure at Liverpool this season as they continue to struggle under him (Image: PA)
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Both Marseille and Liverpool, eager to secure automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16, face off at the Orange Velodrome on Wednesday evening in the group stage. Les Olympiens are chasing a third consecutive victory in Europe’s top competition, while the Reds are looking to bounce back from recent domestic disappointments.
For Liverpool, the Champions League has often provided a welcome distraction from their struggles in the 2025-26 Premier League campaign. The Reds have enjoyed a series of memorable European nights recently, including two emphatic wins over Real Madrid and a statement triumph at San Siro. Arne Slot’s side entered their matchday six encounter with Inter Milan as underdogs, but the reigning Premier League champions defied expectations to claim a 1-0 win, courtesy of a Dominik Szoboszlai penalty, putting them on the verge of a top-eight finish.
Liverpool currently sit level on points and goal difference with Atletico Madrid, but trail Diego Simeone’s men in the race for automatic qualification due to an inferior goals-scored tally. Real Madrid and Inter also have 12 points apiece, making the group finely balanced. However, Liverpool’s weekend draw with relegation-threatened Burnley—a 1-1 result at Anfield—was less cause for celebration, as it saw the Reds become the first reigning Premier League champions to fail to win any of their three home games against newly-promoted sides in a single season, fueling speculation about Arne Slot’s future on Merseyside.
Slot will be hoping his team can extend their 12-match unbeaten run on Wednesday, but overcoming Roberto De Zerbi’s free-scoring Marseille will be no easy task. The French side have embraced an attacking philosophy throughout the 2025-26 season, a strategy that paid off again on matchday six when a Mason Greenwood brace led them to a 3-2 win over Belgian hopefuls Union Saint-Gilloise. De Zerbi’s men have also claimed victories over Newcastle United and PSV Eindhoven in this year’s competition, though they have fallen to Sporting Lisbon, Atalanta, and Real Madrid. Currently 12th in their group and three points shy of the automatic qualification spots, Marseille remain in the hunt.
Domestically, Marseille demonstrated their attacking prowess once more with a 5-2 thrashing of Angers on Saturday, scoring four times before the 40th minute to stay eight points behind leaders Lens.
Marseille vs Liverpool Team News
Liverpool’s visit to Marseille comes just four days after Mohamed Salah wrapped up his Africa Cup of Nations campaign. The 33-year-old has been named in the squad, but it remains uncertain whether he will be in the starting lineup. Slot will be without Conor Bradley (knee), Giovanni Leoni (knee), and Alexander Isak (leg), while Ibrahima Konate is a doubt due to personal reasons.
Despite creating plenty of opportunities in their last outing, Liverpool were let down by their finishing, so Slot is likely to stick with a similar starting XI in France. However, the fresh legs of Alexis Mac Allister and Andy Robertson could prove valuable.
Marseille, meanwhile, are set to welcome back their own AFCON participant soon, as Nayef Aguerd’s Morocco were narrowly beaten by Senegal in a dramatic final. However, the former West Ham defender is not expected to feature in this match. Derek Cornelius (muscle) and Ruben Blanco (knee) remain sidelined for the hosts, while Bilal Nadir was forced off late against Angers but is not believed to have suffered a serious injury, much like Benjamin Pavard (head).
Should Nadir be unavailable, Arthur Vermeeren, Angel Gomes, and Matt O’Riley are all options to fill the midfield role. Up front, both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Igor Paixao will be eager to reclaim their spots in the attacking lineup.
Marseille vs Liverpool Prediction
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