Liverpool win 3-0 in Marseille, as Mohamed Salah returns to the beginning lineup for first time since November.
Liverpool swept apart Olympique de Marseille with a 3-0 away victory to increase their unbeaten run to 13 matches in all competitions and transfer a step nearer to direct qualification for the Champions League final 16.
Objectives on Wednesday from Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo, both aspect of a Geronimo Rulli personal purpose, lifted Arne Slot’s crew to fifteen factors, leaving them effectively positioned within the prime eight forward of the ultimate spherical of matches. Marseille stay within the hunt for a playoff spot on 9 factors regardless of the defeat.
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The Ligue 1 aspect are nineteenth within the desk and journey to Membership Brugge of their ultimate group match, needing a constructive end result to maintain their European marketing campaign alive, whereas Liverpool, in fourth, will host Qarabag, figuring out one other win would safe their place within the final 16.
Liverpool seemed sharp as they continued their restoration after a tough interval earlier within the season, whereas Marseille as soon as once more confirmed their limitations on the largest stage.
“It’s all the time tough to play in opposition to [Roberto] De Zerbi groups as a result of in the event you aren’t front-footed, they will play out fairly straightforward,” mentioned Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, who made his 350th look for the membership.
“They carry on taking part in and taking a danger, so in the event you win the ball between the traces, then you could have an opportunity. I’m happy with the crew, all people put a shift in,” added the Dutch centre-back earlier than warning of the hazards of Saturday’s Premier League opponents, Bournemouth.
“We all the time say after a win or good end result to maintain momentum. However Bournemouth are a tough crew to beat, play excellent soccer, and now we have to be greater than prepared. We are going to recuperate and go once more.”
Within the backside half of the 36-team league, OM had been left considering the hole between them and their opponents.
“It’s powerful, they performed a great recreation, we weren’t effectively within the first half. We tried our greatest, nevertheless it’s very powerful; they’re used to taking part in like this,” Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi mentioned.
“You possibly can’t see it from outdoors the pitch, nevertheless it’s very powerful.”
Mohamed Salah made his first begin since November as Liverpool lined up with Joe Gomez stepping in at centre-back within the absence of Ibrahima Konate, who missed the sport on account of a private matter.
Marseille got here into the match having gone 30 Champions League video games with no draw, whereas Liverpool had been additionally with no stalemate of their earlier 27 matches, the 2 longest such runs within the competitors’s historical past.
Free kick underneath the wall
Arne Slot’s Liverpool managed a lot of a cagey opening half however lacked a little sharpness within the ultimate third. Salah went shut when Jeremie Frimpong discovered him on the close to publish, however the ahead lifted his effort over the bar.
Marseille threatened in flashes. Mason Greenwood’s free kick was headed clear to Amine Gouiri, who struck a robust effort on track, forcing a high-quality save from Alisson Becker.
The guests then thought that they had scored by Hugo Ekitike, however the purpose was dominated out for offside.
Liverpool struck on the stroke of half-time as Szoboszlai despatched a low free kick underneath the wall to provide the Reds a deserved lead.
Marseille injected some life into their recreation after the break, however they had been clearly second bes,t and Liverpool doubled their tally within the 73rd minute when Frimpong’s low cutback took a deflection off goalkeeper Rulli and rolled into the online for an personal purpose.
Liverpool then received a 3rd purpose three minutes into added time when Szoboszlai’s deft flick launched Ryan Gravenberch, who fed Gakpo for a composed end.
