Liverpool secured a convincing 3-0 victory away to Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday evening, with Mohamed Salah making his long-awaited return to the starting lineup for Arne Slot's side. While all eyes were on the Egyptian forward's comeback, it was Dominik Szoboszlai who stole the show with a clever first-half free-kick that set the Reds on their path to a crucial three points.
Szoboszlai Shines in Salah's Return Match
The match at the Stade Vélodrome saw Liverpool dominate proceedings from early on, with their pressing game causing Marseille significant problems. Mohamed Salah was making his first start since November 26th, when Liverpool suffered a humiliating 4-1 home defeat to PSV Eindhoven. His subsequent omission from the team had led to public comments about being "thrown under the bus," suggesting tensions with manager Arne Slot.
However, the Africa Cup of Nations provided a natural break in the saga, and Salah was deployed in an advanced role alongside Hugo Ekitike in a 4-2-2-2 formation. Despite his return, it was Szoboszlai who proved the match-winner, surprising the hosts with a clever low free-kick that crept under the jumping wall and inside the post during first-half added time.
Clinical Finishing Seals the Points
Liverpool doubled their advantage in the second half when Jeremie Frimpong's cross took a deflection off goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli and found the net, just as Marseille were beginning to build some pressure. The victory was sealed in added time when substitute Cody Gakpo added a third goal, securing Liverpool's first three-goal margin victory of the season.
The result makes a Champions League top-eight finish increasingly likely for Liverpool, who are now enjoying a 12-game unbeaten run after previously suffering nine defeats in twelve matches. Tuesday's results elsewhere had opened the door for Liverpool to avoid the play-offs, and Atletico Madrid's draw at Galatasaray provided further encouragement for their European ambitions.
Salah's Quiet Return
While Salah's return generated significant pre-match attention, the Egyptian forward had a relatively quiet evening. His one clear chance of the first half saw him divert Frimpong's cross onto the roof of the net with his hip, while an offside flag spared his embarrassment after putting a second-half header wide. He also missed a late opportunity when he screwed a shot wide with only Rulli to beat.
The match demonstrated that while Salah remains an important figure for Liverpool, his influence is no longer match-defining in the way it once was. Florian Wirtz, Szoboszlai, and to a lesser extent Ekitike now hold greater sway in Liverpool's attacking play, with the Hungarian midfielder particularly impressive throughout.
Marseille's Frustration
The home side created few clear opportunities despite some promising moments. Alisson Becker was called into action to save from Amine Gouiri and Mason Greenwood either side of half-time, while Timothy Weah had Marseille's two best efforts of the match. The French club's pre-match tifo featured The Beatles reading a newspaper with the headline 'Que l'histoire se repete' - loosely translated as 'That History repeats itself' - in reference to their 2-1 UEFA Cup victory against Liverpool at the same venue in 2004.
However, history did not repeat itself on this occasion, with Liverpool's defensive solidity and clinical finishing proving too much for the hosts. The victory represents an important step in Liverpool's Champions League campaign and provides manager Arne Slot with positive selection headaches as Salah returns to full fitness and form.
