Liverpool moved up to fourth place in the Champions League table with a 3-0 victory over Marseille at the Stade Velodrome.
Arne Slott’s side started the game outside of the crucial top eight, but a dominant away performance has boosted their chances of progressing to the round of 16.
Dominik Szoboszlai took the lead in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Burnley in first-half stoppage time with a deft free-kick under the Marseille wall and a missed penalty.
The second goal came from Jeremy Frimpong, who beat a player in the Marseille box before cutting back, which was slotted into Marseille’s goalkeeper Geronimo Lulli’s own net.
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Clinton Morrison analyzes Liverpool’s overwhelming victory over Marseille
Substitute Kodi Gakpo added a third goal with a last-minute goal from a pass from Ryan Gravenbirch. That night, Arne Slott also started for Mohamed Salah for the first time since his explosive interview in December, raising questions about his future.
Salah, who returned from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt last week, should have been on the scoresheet, but Gakpo’s play forced him to miss an unusual shot.
Marseille tested Alisson several times, but Liverpool controlled the game and came close with Hugo Ekitike rattling the post in one of several chances in the second half.
Liverpool’s Codi Gakpo celebrates with Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenbirch
The victory was Liverpool’s second in six competitions and puts Slott’s side in a good position to finish comfortably inside the top eight and avoid a two-legged play-off ahead of next week’s final league game at home to Qarabag.
Permutations: What does winning mean?
Victory in Marseille not only secured Liverpool a top-eight finish, but also gave them the chance to secure a top-four spot.
But first of all, the table is very crowded, with only three points separating Real Madrid in 3rd place and Juventus in 15th place, so Liverpool need to win against Qarabag to ensure they avoid the play-offs.
A draw might be enough, but next Wednesday’s final round will begin with nine teams finishing with at least 16 points below Liverpool.
So we have to win against Karabagh. And if Liverpool win, Anfield will host a top-four finish, the second leg of a last-16 tie and the second leg of a quarter-final tie.
Slots: You had to be really good to beat them
Liverpool manager Arne Slott to TNT Sports:
“It’s a difficult place to go here because of their fans, but definitely also because of their players and their coach. They always have a very good idea of how to play.
“We had to be really good today to beat them, and I think that’s what we were capable of.
“Of the last 14 games we have been unbeaten, we have only been behind in the 54th minute. In every other game we have conceded the lead at some point during the game.
“One of the best examples was when Ekitike hit the bar on the counter-attack and the opponent almost scored a 1-1 goal.
“Now, with our season, we would have expected that chance to come, so people might complain a lot about us again.
“But we probably deserved what we got today and we weren’t as unlucky as we have been many times this season.”
Analysis: Did Szoboszlai steal Salah?
Salah’s return to the starting lineup for the first time since his bombshell interview suggests he still has a role to play this season. However, the team currently has another key player in Dominik Szoboszlai.
The midfielder endured a tough run of form last week, scoring a goal for Burnley in the FA Cup but missing the match against Burnley. But when Liverpool won a free-kick on the shooting range towards the end of the first half, they made it clear they wanted Salah to step up.
Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates with Jeremy Frimpong
“I love his confidence,” Steven Gerrard, who knows a thing or two about taking on Liverpool’s responsibilities, told TNT Sport. “Most players who heard Mo Salah’s words would step aside and respect it, but I love the way he says no chance.”
Of course, what followed was a deft shot that went under the wall and into the net, giving Liverpool the decisive lead. Szoboszlai added three assists in his fourth of seven Champions League appearances this season.
The goal was yet another outstanding moment from an influential player. Szoboszlai was involved in most of Liverpool’s best moments. He earned free-kick duties following the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold and continues to step up in key moments.
Salah is back, but Szoboszlai is the talisman of this team now.
Szoboszlai plays against Trent’s exploits – Opta statistics
Dominik Szoboszlai becomes the first Liverpool player to score more than one free-kick in a season (both scoring twice) since Trent Alexander-Arnold in 2022/23. Szoboszlai has contributed directly to the goals in the last five Champions League games (4 goals, 2 assists). Mohamed Salah made his 88th appearance in a major European competition for Liverpool, joining Ian Callaghan. Only Jamie Carragher (130 wins) and Steven Gerrard (111 wins) have achieved more for the Reds. Since the start of last season, no team has won more away games in the Champions League than Liverpool (8-6-2), tied with Arsenal (8-6-1-1).
