Liverpool eased to victory over Marseille in the Champions League, with the French media bemoaning Roberto De Zerbi's side's performance on a night to forget for the hosts
James Findlater Content Editor
10:37, 22 Jan 2026
Liverpool eased to victory over Marseille in the Champions League
Liverpool eased to victory over Marseille in the Champions League(Image: Getty Images)
The French media isn’t too happy with Marseille, having bemoaned a “naive” performance from Roberto De Zerbi’s side in their defeat to Liverpool on Wednesday.
The Reds took a huge step toward securing a top-eight finish in the league phase of the Champions League as it recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory on their travels. Dominik Szoboszlai set the ball rolling with a clever free-kick before half-time, with Jeremie Frimpong forcing an own goal in the second half to all but confirm his side’s win.
Cody Gakpo put the icing on the cake with a late third, with Liverpool managing to put the disappointment of the weekend draw with Burnley firmly behind it.
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Arne Slot and his players might have been expecting a lot more from their hosts, who had finished second only to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 last season, and of course had a familiar face in charge in Roberto De Zerbi, who had impressed so much with Brighton in the Premier League.
Bar a nervous moment on the break in the second half though, the Reds were rarely tested as they eased to victory, leaving the local media far from impressed.
L'Equipe summed up a disappointing evening for the hosts, saying: "A packed and roaring Vélodrome, magnificent tifos displayed in the stands before kickoff, and the still-fresh memory of the 45 most beautiful minutes played on Saturday in Angers since Roberto De Zerbi took over as manager: everything seemed set for OM to have the kind of night that shakes things up and changes the course of a season.
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - JANUARY 21: Liverpool head coach Arne Slot of Liverpool celebrates the team's victory after the UEFA Champions League week 7 football match between Olympique Marseille and Liverpool at Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France, on January 21, 2026. (Photo by Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images)
It proved to be a comfortable night for Liverpool against Marseille(Image: Getty Images)
"Wednesday night, however, brought a brutal reality to Marseille, leaving the third-placed team in Ligue 1 reeling and soundly beaten (0-3) . The day before, De Zerbi had said he was convinced he had the players capable of "trouble" a Liverpool side unbeaten since the end of November, though he wasn't exactly brimming with confidence. It turned out to be nothing of the sort."
La Marseillaise bemoaned the gulf in quality between the two sides, saying: "While Liverpool were disciplined in their counter-attacks, often creating danger in front of Geronimo Rulli's goal, Marseille's attacks were too disorganized, as John Lennon might have hummed. This disarray benefited the English side, who saw the potential for a major upset looming, knowing full well what they needed to do to take a giant step towards direct qualification for the round of 16.
"As if Liverpool's dominance wasn't enough, an unintentional handball by Geronimo Rulli turned Marseille's evening into a nightmare. OM saw their wild dream of once again upsetting Liverpool vanish, and with it, their hope of seeing the sun rise again.
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"Even though they were never truly alone all evening, Marseille were simply not up to the task. Their naivety allowed Liverpool to enjoy a relatively comfortable night. It was the kind of performance that highlights the difference between a seasoned Champions League competitor and an apprentice hoping to one day join the elite."
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And under the scathing headline "Red with shame", La Provence provided a blunt reality check for the hosts: "OM never really believed it on Wednesday evening, except for a brief half-hour between the first two goals scored by Liverpool, and they were logically punished by these Reds (0-3) whom many had prematurely written off and who gave them a real football lesson.
"While the Vélodrome had donned its finest attire for this match, which had captivated the nation and beyond, Roberto De Zerbi's men were unable to do the same. They played at a mundane pace, merely passing the ball around without any intention of winning or challenging their opponents. The first half thus unfolded in a dreadful, monotonous languor, punctuated only by the hope that the English were having an off night, which, in reality, was not the case."