Liverpool took a major step towards the Champions League last 16 with a composed 3-0 away win over Marseille at the Stade Vélodrome, overcoming a hostile atmosphere to strengthen their position in the top eight.
The Reds showed maturity and tactical discipline on a night that tested their character, controlling key moments of the game and capitalising on Marseille’s lapses.
The hosts set the tone before kick-off with a striking tifo celebrating The Beatles, creating a charged atmosphere inside the stadium as Marseille looked to unsettle their visitors early.
Backed by a vocal home crowd, Marseille began brightly, pressing aggressively and moving the ball quickly in the opening stages as Liverpool were forced to weather the early storm.
Liverpool, restored Mohamed Salah for his first start in two months after AFCON duty, initially absorbed pressure as the French side looked to impose themselves with high energy and direct play.
Despite Marseille’s early pressing, Liverpool grew into the contest and began to assert control through midfield, with Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch dictating the tempo and slowing the game down.
Clear chances were limited in open play, but Liverpool’s patience and structure gradually took the sting out of Marseille’s momentum.
Free-kick breaks the deadlock
The breakthrough arrived in first-half stoppage time from a set-piece, just as Marseille appeared to be heading into the interval on level terms.
After Ryan Gravenberch was fouled just outside the area, Dominik Szoboszlai stepped up with confidence and caught Marseille completely off guard.
His low free-kick slipped through a jumping wall and past goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, who reacted too late, giving Liverpool a crucial lead going into the break.
That moment proved decisive, shifting the balance of belief firmly in Liverpool’s favour while deflating the home side.
Liverpool looked more assured after the restart, circulating the ball with greater authority and limiting Marseille’s attacking rhythm.
Marseille, led by the lively Mason Greenwood, searched for a response and enjoyed brief spells of pressure as they tried to restore parity.
Greenwood twice threatened from the edge of the area, forcing Alisson into sharp saves, but the Reds’ defence remained compact and well organised.
Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez marshalled the back line expertly, dealing calmly with crosses and breaking up attacks before they became dangerous.
Liverpool finish strong
Liverpool’s second goal came 18 minutes from time and effectively ended the contest, rewarding their control and patience.
Jeremie Frimpong surged down the right flank and delivered a dangerous cross into the penalty area, putting Marseille under immediate pressure.
After deflections off Facundo Medina and goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, the ball crossed the line to double the visitors’ advantage.
The goal took the wind out of Marseille’s sails, and Liverpool grew increasingly confident as they managed possession and dictated the closing stages.
Marseille continued to push in search of a lifeline, but gaps began to appear as they committed numbers forward.
Cody Gakpo added gloss late on, calmly finishing from Gravenberch’s pass to make it 3-0 and finally silence the home crowd.
The result leaves Liverpool well placed to secure a top-eight finish, with momentum firmly on their side heading into the final round of fixtures.
With a final league-phase match against Qarabag at Anfield still to come, Liverpool will be confident of sealing automatic qualification and avoiding the knockout play-off round.
For Marseille, the defeat was a harsh reminder of the fine margins at elite European level, despite their spirited start and passionate home support.