Liverpool's Champions League campaign just got a whole lot brighter, but it came at a cost – a 'low blow,' as some might call it. Was it really a cheap shot, or just brilliant strategy? Let's dive into Liverpool's decisive victory over Marseille and the return of a certain Egyptian king, Mohamed Salah, and you can decide for yourself.
Under the guidance of Arne Slot, Liverpool seems to have found solace in European competition. What was anticipated to be a fierce test against Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille – a true gauge of the Premier League champions' current form – turned out to be a surprisingly comfortable step towards securing their place in the Champions League's last 16. It's almost as if the pressure cooker environment of the Premier League is stifling them, but the open spaces of European football allow them to breathe and thrive.
The scoreline tells the story: Dominik Szoboszlai's clever free-kick, an own goal forced by Jeremie Frimpong's persistence, and a late strike from substitute Cody Gakpo secured a well-deserved victory in the south of France. This win also marks Liverpool's ninth triumph in their last eleven European away games under Slot. The margin of victory could have been even more significant, but after recent struggles to convert dominance into goals, Slot will undoubtedly be pleased with such a convincing win. This victory wasn't just about the goals; it was about the way they were scored – a testament to Liverpool's tactical flexibility and ruthlessness in exploiting Marseille's weaknesses.
Liverpool started strong at the electrifying Stade Vélodrome, where the atmosphere was already building an hour and a half before kickoff. Slot opted for the midfield diamond formation, a tactic that proved successful in their previous European away match against Inter. But this time, there was a key difference: Mohamed Salah was back in the starting lineup. Salah's return is particularly noteworthy, considering he was benched against Inter following that explosive interview at Leeds. This raises the question: has the rift between Salah and the club truly been mended, or is this just a temporary truce?
"Let’s see the lineup tomorrow if you still think there’s an issue," Slot quipped at the pre-match press conference when questioned about his relationship with Salah. But here's where it gets controversial... The real questions aren't about Slot's perspective, but rather Salah's feelings towards Liverpool and Slot. Is there lingering resentment? Does he feel undervalued? These are the questions that remain unanswered, and ones that could potentially derail Liverpool's ambitions later in the season.
Before the match, both teams paid their respects to former Marseille player and manager Rolland Courbis, who recently passed away. The pre-match atmosphere was further enhanced by an impressive tifo display from the Marseille fans, depicting the Beatles reading a copy of La Provence newspaper with the headline ‘Que l’histoire se repete’ – Let history repeat itself – alongside an image of Didier Drogba celebrating Marseille’s victory over Liverpool in the 2004 Uefa Cup. Ironically, the Marseille fans proved to be far more creative than the team they were supporting.
The home side, surprisingly, seemed more intimidated by the occasion than their visitors. Uncharacteristically for a De Zerbi team, Marseille struggled to maintain possession throughout the first half. Alisson was called into action to deny Amine Gouiri and Benjamin Pavard, but otherwise, Liverpool posed the greater threat. This suggests that Liverpool's game plan was specifically designed to disrupt Marseille's usual passing rhythm, forcing them into uncharacteristic errors.
Alexis Mac Allister, who previously played under De Zerbi at Brighton, narrowly missed an early chance. Shortly after, Hugo Ekitiké’s goal was disallowed for offside. Ryan Gravenberch capitalized on a sloppy touch by Geoffrey Kondogbia, setting up Salah, who then found Szoboszlai in space. However, Ekitiké was deemed offside when he swept Szoboszlai's cross into the net. This sequence highlights Liverpool's ability to transition quickly from defense to attack, a key element of their success under Slot.
Marseille's constant errors in possession clearly frustrated their head coach on the sidelines. And this is the part most people miss... Liverpool deserves credit for forcing these mistakes with their relentless pressing and by cutting off passing lanes to the central defenders Leonardo Balerdi and Facundo Medina. Another mistake deep in their own half led to a Liverpool counterattack, culminating in Salah's audacious volley from Frimpong’s cross, which sailed just over the bar.
Liverpool's well-deserved lead finally arrived just before halftime. Balerdi, who had been a consistent source of danger to his own team, fouled Gravenberch just outside the penalty area. After a lengthy VAR check for a potential handball by Timothy Weah, Szoboszlai stepped up to take the free-kick. Spotting Rulli out of position, Szoboszlai cleverly curled the ball under the wall and inside the near post. This goal was particularly significant for Szoboszlai, considering his recent penalty miss against Burnley and the criticism he faced after the FA Cup defeat to Barnsley. It was a moment of redemption, proving his mental fortitude and ability to bounce back from setbacks.
De Zerbi's halftime team talk clearly had an impact, as Marseille started the second half with renewed intensity. Mason Greenwood forced Alisson into a good save with a dipping shot from 25 yards, and later led a dangerous break that ended with Hamed Traoré firing over the bar. Greenwood's performance, in particular, is noteworthy given his controversial past. But here's where it gets controversial... Should players with such checkered histories be given opportunities to play at the highest level? This is a debate that continues to rage in the football world.
Between Greenwood's chances, Ekitiké missed a golden opportunity to double Liverpool's lead, hitting the post after a clever pass from Szoboszlai. Slot may have been reminded of his team’s struggles to finish off Burnley when Wirtz was denied by Rulli and Ekitiké missed another good chance. However, those worries were put to rest when Frimpong's persistence led to Liverpool's second goal. Wirtz and Ekitiké combined well before finding Mac Allister, who then played in Frimpong. His low cross deflected off both Medina and Rulli and trickled into the net, ultimately being credited as an own goal by the keeper. Liverpool didn't care who scored, as they celebrated another goal in stoppage time. Gakpo emphatically converted Gravenberch's assist, sealing a comprehensive victory.
So, was Szoboszlai's free-kick a stroke of genius or just plain luck? Can Salah truly integrate back into the Liverpool squad after his public outburst? And is Liverpool finally finding their rhythm under Arne Slot? What did you think of the match? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
