Liverpool have one foot in the knockouts after a routine win over Marseille.
From the start, Liverpool looked fluid and ready to take the game to their Champions League opponents. It was a great performance only missing a goal.
That reward would come in the 45th minute, when Liverpool won a free-kick on the edge of Marseille’s box. Dominik Szoboszlai channeled his inner Coutinho, slipping it under the wall to give the Reds a well-deserved lead at the interval.
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The game opened up in the second half. Hugo Ekitike came close a couple of times before Jeremie Frimpong carried on his brilliant attacking form, making Liverpool’s second — an own-goal.
Cody Gakpo scored a third at the death to secure the win and put Liverpool in a strong position heading into the final matchday.
Who was your man of the match during the win over Marseille?
Nice to have a few contenders!
Olympique Marseille v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League
Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates /Getty Images
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Liverpool player ratings vs Marseille
Alisson Becker – 6
Alisson was tested just once in the first half, and a couple of half-chances in the second. Mostly unbusy. A brilliant save in stoppage time.
Jeremie Frimpong – 7
We wondered how Salah and Frimpong could play together. The returning Egyptian played more centrally, allowing his right-back to operate freely on the right flank. He won’t get the credit for Liverpool’s second, but he made that all by himself.
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Joe Gomez – 6
It went some way to easing Liverpool’s recent centre-back woes that Gomez was so good at the back. His passing was pin-point and he stayed mostly solid.
Virgil van Dijk – 6
Virgil van Dijk playing for Liverpool vs Marseille
Photo by Stuart Franklin – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
The Liverpool captain’s 350th appearance for the club was like most others. He was unchallenged for the most part, but always ready to sweep up trouble.
Milos Kerkez – 8
Brilliant from Kerkez tonight. Looked like the player who broke out at Bournemouth last season. Crosses were frequent and ever-dangerous. Defensively, too, he was impassable. A real statement performance in the Champions League.
Ryan Gravenberch – 6
More positive from Gravenberch. He looked to progress the ball through the midfield and was key to dealing with an unorthodox De Zerbi press. A team-focused performance Arne Slot will be delighted with.
Alexis Mac Allister – 6
Mac Allister played his deeper role well, dropping back to collect possession and distributing to the attacking midfielders ahead of him.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 7
The free-kick was glorious. Shades of Coutinho, Ronaldinho, Payet. A huge moment for Szoboszlai, becoming the first Liverpool player since Trent Alexander-Arnold to score multiple free-kicks in a season.
Full-time in Marseille, what are your takeaways from a much better night?
Jeremie Frimpong celebrates after forcing an own-goal during Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against Marseille at the Stade Velodrome (Credit: Getty Images/Justin Setterfield).
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Justin Setterfield
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Florian Wirtz – 5
In almost every game, there are moments from German that leave you speechless. He would admit it wasn’t his most impactful performance.
Mohamed Salah – 5
Salah starting bodes well for Liverpool. He did look a step slow, and that was never more apparent than when he scuffed what would usually be a gilt-edged opportunity in the late stages.
Hugo Ekitike – 7
FBL-EUR-C1-MARSEILLE-LIVERPOOL
Photo by Thibaud MORITZ / AFP via Getty Images
Ekitike thought he had opened the scoring mid-way through the first half, but the offside flag deprived him of yet another Liverpool goal. He came agonisingly close again just before the hour mark, rattling the crossbar.
A real live wire — could have had a hat-trick. Ended with none.
Substitutions
Curtis Jones – 5
Decent.
Cody Gakpo – 6
Took his goal well.
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