Mohamed Salah returned to the starting lineup for the first time since November as Liverpool beat Marseille 3-0.
Liverpool defeated Olympique de Marseille with a 3-0 away win, extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to 13 games and moving one step closer to directly qualifying for the Champions League last 16.
Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Kodi Gakpo on Wednesday, which included an own goal from Geronimo Lulli, lifted Arne Slott’s side to 15 points and a good position in the top eight ahead of the final game. Despite the defeat, Marseille are still aiming to qualify for the play-offs with nine points.
Recommended stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
The Ligue 1 side are 19th in the table and travel to Club Brugge in their final group game, but need a good result to keep their European campaign alive. Meanwhile, fourth-placed Liverpool need just one more win to secure their place in the last 16, so they will host Qarabag.
Liverpool continued their recovery after a difficult period early in the season and looked sharp, but Marseille once again showed their limitations on the biggest stage.
“It’s always difficult to play against (Roberto) De Zerbi’s teams because if you’re not going forward they can play very easily,” said Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, who was making his 350th appearance for the club.
“They keep playing with risks, so if we can win the ball between the lines we have a chance. I’m happy for the team, everyone put in a shift,” added the Dutch centre-back, warning of the danger of Saturday’s Premier League opponents Bournemouth.
“You always say after a win or a good result you try to keep the momentum going, but Bournemouth are a difficult team to beat and they play very good football. We have to be more than ready. We will recover and move forward again.”
In the bottom half of the 36-team league, OM were left to ponder the gap to their opponents.
Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi said: “It’s tough. They played a good game. We weren’t good in the first half. We tried our best but it’s very tough. They’re used to playing like this.”
“You can’t see it from outside the pitch, but it’s really tough.”
With Ibrahima Konate absent due to personal reasons, Liverpool’s Joe Gomez took his place at centre-back, with Mohamed Salah making his first start since November.
Marseille went into this match without a draw in their 30th Champions League match, while Liverpool also had not had a stalemate in their previous 27 matches, making it the longest two-game stretch in the competition’s history.
free kick under the wall
Arne Slott’s Liverpool were mostly in control in the first half, but the final third was a little lackluster. Jeremy Frimpong found Salah at the near post and Salah went close to scoring, but his shot went over the bar.
Marseille threatened with a flash. Mason Greenwood’s free-kick was cleared by Amin Gouiri, who fired a powerful shot on target, forcing a fine save from Alisson Becker.
The visiting team then thought Hugo Ekitike had scored, but the goal was canceled due to offside.
Liverpool gave the Reds a deserved lead just before half-time when Szoboszlai curled a low free-kick under the wall.
Marseille invigorated the game after the break but were clearly second and Liverpool doubled their tally in the 73rd minute when Frimpong’s low cutback deflected off goalkeeper Lulli and rolled into the net for an own goal.
Liverpool grabbed their third goal in the third minute of stoppage time when Szoboszlai’s deft flick led to Ryan Gravenbirch, who fed Gakpo who finished calmly.
