Liverpool are closing in on a guaranteed spot in the Champions League last 16 after a comfortable 3-0 win at Marseille in a change of gears on Wednesday night.
Marseille 0-3 Liverpool
Champions League (7) | Stade Velodrome
January 21, 2026
Goals
Szoboszlai 45+1′ (assist: none)
Rulli OG 72′ (assist: Frimpong)
Gakpo 90+3′ (assist: Gravenberch)
Stats
Possession: 42%
Shots: 11
On Target: 3
Expected Goals: 1.49
Team news: Salah returns with 3 changes to XI
Back from the Africa Cup of Nations and straight back into the side, Mohamed Salah made his first start in almost two months as one of three changes for Liverpool.
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Liverpool's players line-up for a team group photograph before the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC at the Stade Vélodrome. Back row (L-R) goalkeeper Alisson Becker, captain Virgil van Dijk, Hugo Ekitike, Joe Gomez, Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai. Front row (L-R) Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz, Mohamed Salah(Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Joe Gomez also came in for Ibrahima Konate – absent to attend to a family matter – while Alexis Mac Allister took over from Curtis Jones in midfield.
Federico Chiesa was named among the substitutes but pulled out late due to injury.
Arne Slot set the Reds in a 4-2-2-2, with Salah and Hugo Ekitike splitting wider and both Dominik Szoboszlai and Florian Wirtz pushing forward in the centre.
Szoboszlai magic caps bright first half
For once not faced with a low block, it was a more open game for Liverpool in the intense atmosphere of the Stade Velodrome.
The Reds were still made to work for their openings, however, with Mac Allister going closest in the opening 20 minutes by finding space and drilling a low effort just wide of the post.
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai scores the first goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC at the Stade Vélodrome. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Ekitike had the ball in the back of the net soon after, following a rapid-fire counter involving Salah, but the goal was ruled out with the Frenchman in an offside position as Szoboszlai sent in his cross.
Szoboszlai eventually put Liverpool 1-0 up on the stroke of half-time, and it was a moment of pure brilliance from a set-piece, the Hungarian keeping it low and under the wall to trickle into Geronimo Rulli’s bottom corner.
Half-time: Marseille 0-1 Liverpool
Job done in professional second half
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike with an attempt on goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC at the Stade Vélodrome. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
There was a more even start to the second half, with Marseille better value for an equaliser early on as Wirtz wasted a chance at one end and Mason Greenwood forced a strong save from Alisson at the other.
Ekitike smashed the post after a brilliant pass from Gomez to Szoboszlai and a deft through ball from the No. 8, with Marseille then breaking only for Hamed Traore to blast over the bar.
Milos Kerkez drove into the centre and teed up Wirtz for another shot tipped away from goal by Rulli, with the German thriving in open spaces but struggling to find the right touch in the box.
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong scores his side's second goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC at the Stade Vélodrome. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Liverpool were 2-0 up midway through the half and it came through fantastic work from Jeremie Frimpong, who embarrassed his marker in driving to the byline before his simple pass was diverted in for an own goal.
That prompted Slot into his first changes and the combination of Wirtz and Ekitike was replaced by Jones and Cody Gakpo.
Liverpool were already safe in their victory and all but secure of a spot in the last 16, and the cherry on top came with a late finish from Gakpo after stellar work from Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch.
TIA Man of the Match: Dominik Szoboszlai
Marseille 0-3 Liverpool: Match facts
Referee: Slavko Vincic (SVN)
Liverpool: Alisson; Frimpong, Gomez, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Wirtz (Jones 79′), Ekitike (Gakpo 79′)
Subs not used: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Robertson, Endo, Nyoni, Ngumoha
Marseille: Rulli; Murillo, Pavard, Balerdi, Medina; Weah, Hojbjerg, Kondogbia (Nadir 68′), Traore (Paixao 68′); Gouiri (Aubameyang 68′), Greenwood
Subs not used: De Lange, Van Neck, Egan-Riley, Gomez, O’Riley, Vermeeren, Bakola, Doubal, Mmadi
Next Match: Bournemouth (A) – Premier League – Saturday, January 24, 5.30pm (GMT)