Marseille 0-3 Liverpool (Jan 21, 2026) Game Analysis – ESPN Skip to main content Skip to navigation ESPN NFL NFL NBA NBA NCAAF NCAAF NCAAM NCAAM NCAAW NCAAW NHL NHL Soccer Soccer More Sports More Sports Watch Watch Fantasy Fantasy Where to Watch Search Marseille v Liverpool 2025-26 UEFA Champions League, League Phase Marseille Marseille OLM 3-0-4 , 9 PTS 0 3-0-4 , 9 PTS FT Liverpool Liverpool LIV 5-0-2 , 15 PTS 3 5-0-2 , 15 PTS Dominik Szoboszlai – 45'+1' Gerónimo Rulli – 72' OG Cody Gakpo – 90'+2' Summary Report Commentary Statistics Line-Ups Videos Liverpool beat Marseille to close in on UCL last 16 By PA Updated: Jan 21, 2026, 05:17 pm Facebook Facebook Messenger Twitter Email Mohamed Salah ‘s Liverpool return was less impactful than he would have hoped as he was overshadowed by Dominik Szoboszlai in a 3-0 victory in Marseille that made a Champions League top-eight finish all the more likely. While all eyes were on the Egypt international it was his close friend — and the team’s most consistent performer — who surprised the hosts with a clever free-kick under the wall in first-half added time. The set-piece probably favoured Salah’s left foot but Szoboszlai took charge with a low shot which crept under the jump of Leonardo Balerdi and inside the post. Jeremie Frimpong’s second-half cross deflected in off goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli just as pressure was starting to build, before Cody Gakpo’s added-time strike secured only Liverpool’s second win by three goals this season. Salah was making his first start since Nov. 26, when Liverpool were humiliated 4-1 at home to PSV Eindhoven , their final defeat of nine in 12 matches prior to the current 12-game unbeaten stretch. His subsequent omission from the team led to those explosive comments about being “thrown under the bus”, suggesting his relationship with boss Arne Slot had broken down and his own immediate future was in doubt but the Africa Cup of Nations provided a natural break. Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates putting Liverpool ahead against Marseille. Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates /Getty Images He was deployed up front with Hugo Ekitike in a 4-2-2-2 formation, with Florian Wirtz and Szoboszlai as twin number 10s, but the bench was weakened further by injury to Federico Chiesa in the warm-up which left four senior outfield players. The role appeared to suit Salah with slightly less responsibility to chase back while getting him closer to the penalty area and although he was not heavily involved he looked tuned into his team-mates’ wavelengths despite a month away. His one 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 for putting a second-half header wide – but there was no hiding when he screwed wide with only Rulli to beat. However, this game showed that his influence is no longer match-defining. Wirtz, Szoboszlai and, to a lesser extent, Ekitike now hold sway. Results on Tuesday had opened the door for Liverpool to avoid the playoffs and Atletico Madrid’s draw in Galatasaray was another boost. A Marseille 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 the 2-1 UEFA Cup win against Liverpool here in 2004. Joe Gomez and Alexis Mac Allister both sent early attempts wide but it was the tenacity of Liverpool’s press which brought the first big chance. Ryan Gravenberch nicked the ball off Michael Murillo and released Salah, who sent Szoboszlai clear on the right. Although Ekitike converted the low cross he had strayed offside. However, Szoboszlai made it a goal or assist in each of his last five European games by becoming the first Liverpool player since Trent Alexander-Arnold in 2022-23 to score multiple direct free-kicks in a single season. Alisson Becker saved from Amine Gouiri and Mason Greenwood either side of half-time and as the game opened up Ekitike struck the post and Wirtz forced Rulli into a sharp near-post save. Timothy Weah had Marseille’s two best efforts before Frimpong’s driving run along the backline brought the relief of a second goal, then substitute Gakpo added the gloss. Game Information Stade Vélodrome 3:00 PM , January 21, 2026 Coverage : Paramount+ Marseille , France Referees : Slavko Vincici UEFA Champions League Standings Team GP W D L GD P Arsenal 7 7 0 0 +18 21 Bayern Munich 7 6 0 1 +13 18 Real Madrid 7 5 0 2 +11 15 Liverpool 7 5 0 2 +6 15 Tottenham Hotspur 7 4 2 1 +8 14 Paris Saint-Germain 7 4 1 2 +10 13 Newcastle United 7 4 1 2 +10 13 Chelsea 7 4 1 2 +6 13 Barcelona 7 4 1 2 +5 13 Sporting CP 7 4 1 2 +5 13 Manchester City 7 4 1 2 +4 13 Atlético Madrid 7 4 1 2 +3 13 Atalanta 7 4 1 2 +1 13 Internazionale 7 4 0 3 +6 12 Juventus 7 3 3 1 +4 12 Borussia Dortmund 7 3 2 2 +4 11 Galatasaray 7 3 1 3 0 10 FK Qarabag 7 3 1 3 -2 10 Marseille 7 3 0 4 0 9 Bayer Leverkusen 7 2 3 2 -4 9 AS Monaco 7 2 3 2 -6 9 PSV Eindhoven 7 2 2 3 +1 8 Athletic Club 7 2 2 3 -4 8 Olympiacos 7 2 2 3 -5 8 Napoli 7 2 2 3 -5 8 F.C. København 7 2 2 3 -6 8 Club Brugge 7 2 1 4 -5 7 Bodo/Glimt 7 1 3 3 -2 6 Benfica 7 2 0 5 -4 6 Pafos 7 1 3 3 -6 6 Union St.-Gilloise 7 2 0 5 -10 6 Ajax Amsterdam 7 2 0 5 -12 6 Eintracht Frankfurt 7 1 1 5 -9 4 Slavia Prague 7 0 3 4 -11 3 Villarreal 7 0 1 6 -10 1 Kairat Almaty 7 0 1 6 -14 1 Full Table UEFA Champions League News Marseille vs. Liverpool LIVE: Champions League as it happened Mohamed Salah's Liverpool return was less impactful than he would have hoped as he was overshadowed by Dominik Szoboszlai in a 3-0 victory in Marseille. Kane scores 2, misses pen as Bayern make last 16 Harry Kane scored twice as 10-man Bayern Munich sealed their place in the Champions League round of 16 with a 2-0 win against Union Saint-Gilloise. Fermin Lopez sparks Barcelona rally as Lamine Yamal serves ban Barcelona overcame a scare to boost their hopes of automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16 with a hard-fought 4-2 win at Slavia Prague. 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