Who: Marseille vs Liverpool
What: Match day 7 (of 8), league section, UEFA Champions League
The place: Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France
When: Wednesday at 9pm (20:00 GMT)
Learn how to comply with: We’ll have all of the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 17:00 GMT prematurely of our textual content commentary stream.
Liverpool, nurturing top-eight ambitions on the UEFA Champions League (UCL) ladder, journey to southern France to play Marseille of their penultimate group section match.
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The Reds, winners of three of their final 4 UCL fixtures, are presently ninth within the standings and gazing a deadly playoff spherical if they can not transfer any increased of their remaining two video games.
Marseille are additionally knocking on the door of top-eight competition as they sit simply three factors behind Liverpool and with all of it to play for of their conflict in opposition to the English Premier League champions.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a more in-depth take a look at Wednesday’s essential fixture, which could resolve which staff finally cruises into the final 16 and which has to claw their means in through a playoff.
Will Mohamed Salah play in opposition to Marseilles?
Mohamed Salah made his much-anticipated return to Liverpool coaching on Tuesday after the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The Egypt ahead was put by means of his paces throughout a mild exercise with the remainder of the squad on the membership’s coaching centre.
Salah’s return has been a significant speaking level since he took goal at Liverpool in an explosive interview early final month, accusing the membership of throwing him “below the bus” after he was benched for 3 video games in a row and mentioned he had no relationship with supervisor Arne Slot.
However he appeared in its place in a 2-0 Premier League win in opposition to Brighton on December 13, offering an help, and Slot subsequently mentioned the membership had moved on from the furore.
Final week, Slot mentioned he was “pleased” Salah can be returning, refusing to reveal the content material of his conversations with the 33-year-old.
The Liverpool boss mentioned he was uncertain whether or not the ahead would play in opposition to Marseille.
Salah scored 29 league targets to win the Premier League Golden Boot final season as Liverpool romped to a twentieth English league title, however he has managed simply 4 targets through the present marketing campaign.
Englishman Greenwood leads Marseille – and Ligue 1 Golden Boot
Former Manchester United ahead Mason Greenwood leads the Ligue 1 2025-2026 prime scorers chart with 12 targets in 17 appearances for Marseille.
He saved his scorching scoring streak occurring Saturday, scoring within the twenty fourth minute as Marseille saved up the stress on the prime of Ligue 1 with a thumping 5-2 win over Angers.
Greenwood’s spectacular goal-scoring feats comply with a formidable 2024-2025 season with Marseille, the place he completed because the joint prime scorer with 21 targets, sharing the honour with Paris Saint-Germain celebrity Ousmane Dembele.
The 24-year-old is a graduate of Manchester United’s youth system and performed for the Crimson Devils from 2018-2024, scoring 22 targets in 83 appearances.
It has been 5 years since Greenwood made his sole England look, which got here in a slim victory over Iceland.
The place are Marseille and Liverpool within the Champions League standings?
With two match days remaining, Liverpool are ninth within the Champions League group section with 12 factors.
Marseille are in sixteenth place with three wins and three losses from their six matches. They’re one in every of 5 groups with 9 factors.
What number of groups mechanically qualify for the final 16 from the league section?
The highest eight golf equipment on the league section ladder mechanically qualify for the spherical of 16.
Groups putting ninth to twenty fourth face a two-legged knockout playoff spherical with the winners securing passage to the final 16 of the match.
When did Liverpool and Marseille final win the Champions League?
Liverpool have gained the UEFA Champions League six occasions with their most up-to-date title coming below head coach Jurgen Klopp within the 2018-2019 season.
Marseille gained their solely UEFA Champions League title in 1993 with a 1-0 conquer AC Milan.
When did Liverpool final play Marseille within the Champions League?
Liverpool and Marseille will meet within the Champions League for the primary time for the reason that 2008-2009 season.
The 2 golf equipment have performed 4 occasions in Champions League historical past, and Liverpool maintain a 3-1 edge over the French aspect.
Liverpool staff information
Slot has remained tight-lipped on whether or not Salah will get a run in opposition to Marseille, simply days after the Egyptian star returned from AFCON.
Liverpool are nonetheless with out their star offseason signing Alexander Isak, who’s sidelined for an additional few weeks with a leg harm. Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are additionally out with decrease physique accidents.
Liverpool’s predicted beginning lineup (4-2-3-1):
Alisson (goalkeeper); Frimpong, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Marseille staff information
Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was additionally at AFCON, is strongly tipped to return and lead the road for Marseille in opposition to Liverpool.
Coach Roberto De Zerbi will probably be with out injured duo Ruben Blanco and Derek Cornelius.
Marseille’s predicted beginning lineup (4-2-3-1):
Rulli (goalkeeper); Murillo, Balerdi, Medina, Emerson; O’Riley, Hojbjerg; Weah, Greenwood, Paixao; Aubameyang
Final 5 matches
Marseille: W-L-L-W-W (most up-to-date consequence final, all competitions)
Liverpool: D-W-D-D-D (most up-to-date consequence final, all competitions)
