Marseille 0-3 Liverpool: Reds’ Champions League top-eight hopes given boost after victory

Liverpool boosted their chances of securing a top-eight finish and automatic qualification to the next round of the Champions League with a 2-0 victory over Marseille in France.

A Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick, an own goal from Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and a late Cody Gakpo goal ensured Arne Slot’s side extended their unbeaten run to 13 matches in all competitions and move up to fourth in the table.

Coming into the tie, the Reds had gone 27 Champions League games without a draw, while for Marseille it was 30 games.

So it was perhaps unsurprising that the match at the Stade Velodrome would not end in a stalemate.

Salah makes a return

Mohamed Salah was brought straight back into the starting line-up after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.

And the Egyptian had a role in an early opening for Liverpool. Minutes after Alexis Mac Allister had driven a shot inches wide of the post, a swift break saw Salah feed Szoboszlai down the right.

The Hungarian fizzed in a low cross that was turned home by Hugo Ekitike but the Frenchman was adjudged to have been offside.

Salah then flicked an effort just over the bar before Szoboszlai caught out the Marseille players with an ingenious free-kick on the stroke of half-time.

As the hosts’ wall jumped, the Reds midfielder fired a low effort that nestled into the bottom corner to give Slot’s men the lead going into the break.

Liverpool double their advantage

After the restart, Alisson had to be on hand to push away Mason Greenwood’s strike from distance as the hosts looked to get back into the game.

Shortly before the hour mark, Ekitike went close to doubling Liverpool’s advantage when he rattled the bar; a move that was immediately followed by a swift Marseille counter that ended with Hamed Traore blasting over from a promising position.

The Reds again went close soon after, Florian Wirtz seeing his strike tipped round the post by Geronimo Rulli before Ekitike lashed an effort just over.

With the game beginning to open up, Jeremie Frimpong’s cut-back took a touch off the Marseille goalkeeper before skidding into the far side of the net to give Slot’s side breathing space.

Salah wasted a good chance late on when he scuffed a shot wide when clean through on goal, but it mattered little. Gakpo, on as a substitute, finished well after an incisive Liverpool move to add sheen to an already impressive night on the continent.