A goal from a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick on the stroke of half-time and an own goal from Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli after some fine work from Jeremie Frimpong after 72 minutes sealed a valuable away win for Arne Slot’s side, with Cody Gakpo adding a third in injury time to seal a perfect night.
This was a fine Liverpool away day performance and while the Premier League champions are still not at their flowing best, the clean sheet they recorded will be welcomed by Slot as their unbeaten run was extended to 13 games.
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The big news prior to kick-off was the return of Salah for his first start in Liverpool colours since their 4-1 defeat against PSV Eindhoven 56 days ago.
So much has happened since then for Salah, with his omission from Arne Slot’s team followed by an outburst in the media that appeared to hasten his exit from the club. An apology to his team-mates followed before he returned to the Liverpool squad and then missed a month of club duty as he helped Egypt to reach the Afcon semi-finals.
His instant return to Slot’s starting eleven for this game at the Stade Velodrome suggests any lingering uncertainty over his Liverpool future can be banished until the summer at least, with the long-term injury to Alexander Isak ensuring a January was always unlikely.
Salah will need to raise his performance levels if he is to cement his position back in Slot’s side, but that can be said of so many players this season.
Liverpool players celebrate after Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring (Philippe Magoni/AP)
Liverpool players celebrate after Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring (Philippe Magoni/AP)
With their hopes of retaining the Premier League long since gone, the Champions League represents the primary prize they are chasing this season and they ended a flat first half with a moment to savour from Szoboszlai.
Chances were limited in the opening 45 minutes, but Liverpool had one last chance to break the deadlock before the break and their Hungarian midfielders took his moment.
The Marseille wall could have been credited with an assist as they jumped in tandem with Szoboszlai’s low shot, as the ball skidded under their defences and past Marseille keeper Geronimo Rulli.
As Szoboszlai’s free kick appeared to be laced with intent, he may well have been armed with the knowledge that the Marseille wall has a habit of jumping when defending free-kicks and it reaped full dividends for Liverpool to hand them a valuable lead.
The home fans had to be disappointed with their side in the opening half, and were relieved to see Hugo Ekitike’s strike cancelled out by a VAR offside review.
Marseille’s best moment came as Amine Gouiri warmed the hands of Reds keeper Alisson Becker, but their head coach, former Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi, knew his side needed to move through the gears after the break.
Hugo Ekitike was lively for Liverpool (Philippe Magoni/AP)
Hugo Ekitike was lively for Liverpool (Philippe Magoni/AP)
Their spark at the start of the second half was offered by former Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood, who must have been eager to impress against English opposition.
His impressive step-over seven minutes into the second half took him away from Florian Wirtz before he forced a great save from Alisson. That was before a thrilling 59th minute of action that could have seen goals at both ends of the pitch.
First it was the unfortunate Ekitike who went close as he did nearly everything right with his well-timed run in the box and fizzing shot, which thumped off the frame of the Marseille goal. The home side then broke quickly as Greenwood fed Hamed Traore, who blasted a shot over the bar with just Alisson to beat.
Wirtz was then denied by a smart save from Gouiri in the 63rd minute as this game ignited and swung from end to end, with the next goal certain to be crucial in the outcome and it was the visitors that struck. Frimpong was the architect, as he used his pace to threaten the Marseille defence, with his cross flicking off the heel of Marseille ’keeper Rulli en route to goal.
Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo, right, celebrates with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, centre, and Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch after the team’s third goal in Marseille (Philippe Magoni/AP)
Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo, right, celebrates with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, centre, and Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch after the team’s third goal in Marseille (Philippe Magoni/AP)
On a night that marked a 350th appearance in Liverpool colours for their captain Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool held firm defensively and a smooth passing move concluded their night with a cool finish from Gakpo rounding off the win.
A win against Qarabag at Anfield next Wednesday will secure Liverpool a place in the next round of the Champions League and in a season when very little has made sense for Slot’s side, it is possible they could finish off with the biggest prize in European it football.