Liverpool moved a significant step closer to automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday as Mohamed Salah returned to the starting line-up in a convincing 3-0 victory away to Marseille.
Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, before a Geronimo Rulli own goal and a late strike from Cody Gakpo sealed the win in the second half.
Arne Slot’s side, now unbeaten in 13 matches in all competitions, climbed to fourth in the 36-team league table and will guarantee a top-eight finish with victory over Azerbaijani champions Qarabag at Anfield next week.
Marseille, meanwhile, produced a surprisingly blunt display under Roberto De Zerbi and sit 19th, leaving them with work to do away at Club Brugge in their final league fixture to reach the knockout play-off round.
Salah made his first Liverpool start since November, having been benched by Slot earlier in the campaign before helping Egypt reach the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals. The Egyptian had accused the club of throwing him “under the bus”, a dispute that resulted in his omission from the squad for Liverpool’s previous Champions League match at Inter Milan.
Liverpool began brightly at a lively Velodrome, with Joe Gomez missing a chance to score his first senior goal as he headed a corner wide. Alexis Mac Allister also went close for the visitors, while Hugo Ekitike saw a goal ruled out for offside at the other end.
Marseille threatened soon after, with Amine Gouiri forcing Alisson into a full-stretch save, before Salah flicked an effort onto the roof of the net from Jeremie Frimpong’s cross.
Liverpool’s appeals for a handball against Timothy Weah were waved away, but they took the lead in first-half stoppage time from a free-kick awarded after a foul earlier in the same move. Szoboszlai, seeking redemption after missing a penalty against Burnley at the weekend, curled a low effort under the jumping wall and past Rulli.
The hosts showed renewed intent after the break. Alisson saved well from Mason Greenwood’s long-range strike, while Ekitike struck the crossbar just before the hour mark and Weah blazed over moments later following a swift counter-attack. Ekitike continued to squander chances, firing another good opening over the bar.
Liverpool made their dominance count with 18 minutes remaining when Frimpong wriggled to the byline and his low cross was deflected into Rulli’s own net. Salah later missed a gilt-edged chance to end his seven-game scoring drought, but substitute Gakpo added a third in stoppage time to round off a comprehensive victory.
AFP
