Liverpool beat Marseille 3-0 in a satisfying performance from all players away from home in a potentially intimidating atmosphere and windy conditions.
Marseille 0-3 Liverpool
Champions League (7) | Stade Velodrome
January 21, 2026
Goals: Szoboszlai 45+1′, Rulli OG 72′, Gakpo 90+3′
Alisson – 8 (out of 10)
Called into action to make a good, convincing save from an Amine Gouiri shot in the first half, and saved well from a Marseille shot from distance in the second.
Quick thinking and distribution sent Mohamd Salah free following one routine catch.
Another good save late on. One of those games where he looked like he would never concede, and he didn’t.
Jeremie Frimpong – 9 (Man of the Match)
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong celebrates by showing the middle finger after scoring 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)
Made some positive forays forward following a couple of good moments of linkup play, one especially promising with Florian Wirtz.
At one point somehow managed to carry on running as he hit the ground when fouled. Was rewarded for this when he forced an own goal.
Showed recovery pace in defence and worked well alongside Joe Gomez defensively.
Joe Gomez – 8
Slotted in well in place of Ibrahima Konate. Looked comfortable in the central role and composed in possession.
Made a good case for keeping his place in the side and not playing at right-back, where he always seems to get injured!
Completed 100 percent of his passes (39/39).
Virgil van Dijk – 7
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk (R) and Olympique de Marseille's captain Leonardo Balerdi shaking hands at the coin toss before the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC at the Stade Vélodrome. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
One of his easier days at the office.
Had more support from those around and in front of him than usual, but was impressive on the couple of occasions he was called upon.
Milos Kerkez – 8
Looked really good at times, strong in the challenge when needed, and ran with purpose into attacking areas.
Set up Wirtz for a good chance in the second half.
Was as committed as usual in defence but didn’t overcommit, which he’s sometimes guilty of.
Ryan Gravenberch – 8
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo (R) celebrates with team-mate Ryan Gravenberch after scoring the third goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC at the Stade Vélodrome. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The deepest, alongside Alexis Mac Allister, in a box midfield for Liverpool, with a few more defensive responsibilities than his midfield partner.
Spent a lot of time covering in deep areas, maintaining a position near the two centre-backs more often than not, and more than usual.
Also covered at right-back when Frimpong moved forward.
Not an especially noticeable performance, until he got the assist for Cody Gakpo on a rare foray forward late on. Always important to the structure of the team.
Alexis Mac Allister – 7
The same could be said of Mac Allister in terms of not being too noticeable, but played a few good forward passes for others to get themselves noticed.
A simpler performance in quite a defined role alongside Gravenberch, and a better one for it.
Shot just wide in the first half.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 9
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates after scoring 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)
A clever free-kick to give Liverpool a first-half lead just as it was looking like they’d go in at 0-0 at half-time.
Noticed there was no opposition acting as the draught excluder behind the wall, and sent his free-kick accurately underneath it.
Better than recent games where he has looked complacent and frustrated, but always has a wondergoal in his bag, as he showed against Barnsley. At least he celebrated this one, too.
Inventive touch to aid the build-up to the third goal.
Florian Wirtz – 7
A dynamo in attack, and Liverpool’s best outlet to get things going forward once again.
Was set up well by Hugo Ekitike at the start of the second half, but delayed long enough to give the defence a chance to block.
Mohamed Salah – 6
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah reacts to his shot going wide during the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC at the Stade Vélodrome. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Straight back in the team following his return from AFCON. A statement of intent from Arne Slot, who had regularly left Salah out of the team before his departure to Morocco in December.
Executed an inventive flick to turn a good but slightly speculative cross from Frimpong into Liverpool’s biggest chance of the first half.
Showed how easy it is for an outside of the boot finish to go badly wrong when he dragged a good chance wide late on.
Useful if not spectacular.
Hugo Ekitike – 8
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)
The Frenchman asked as many questions of the opposition defence as onlookers asked about his new hair colour.
Always a goal threat, but couldn’t manage the goal. Shoots with power and conviction, and on another night could have had at least one.
Made a good header at the far post to set up a chance early on and struck the post with a first-time hit from Szoboszlai’s pass. Once he did well to get onto the pass, he probably should have scored.
Overall Team Performance – 8
Substitutes
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Liverpool's Cody Gakpo celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC at the Stade Vélodrome. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Curtis Jones (on for Wirtz, 79′) – N/A
Cody Gakpo (on for Ekitike, 79′) – 8
Good cameo. Played a neat ball through to Salah which should have resulted in the third goal. Finished a chance with poise late on to make it three himself.
Subs not used: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Robertson, Endo, Nyoni, Ngumoha
Arne Slot – 8
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - Wednesday, January 21, 2026: Liverpool's head coach Arne Slot (R) passes on instructions to Dominik Szoboszlai during the UEFA Champions League match between Olympique de Marseille and Liverpool FC at the Stade Vélodrome. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
It was interesting to see how he would slot Salah back into the team, and he did so using a box midfield with the Egyptian inside right and Ekitike inside left.
This was especially noticeable out of possession as Szoboszlai and Wirtz often pressed as the most central and most advanced pair.
It would be easy to dismiss Marseille and say they posed little threat, but that was partly down to Liverpool limiting their play.
A clean sheet always looked on the cards, which hasn’t been said very often this season, and the goals also came.