Szoboszlai Strike Sparks Liverpool’s Comfortable Win in France

Liverpool tore through Marseille in a hostile Stade Vélodrome, delivering a ruthless 3–0 European demolition that sends Arne Slot’s side up to fourth in the Champions League table.

Mohamed Salah made his return for the Reds after Africa Cup of Nations duty, featuring for the first time in 39 days and adding further quality to an already confident Liverpool side.

Marseille welcomed Liverpool with a Beatles-themed tifo inside a bouncing Stade Vélodrome, but it was the visitors who dictated the early tempo. Hugo Ekitike thought he had given the Reds the perfect start with a crisp first-time finish, only for the offside flag to deny him by the narrowest of margins.

The breakthrough arrived before half-time when Dominik Szoboszlai fired a pristine low free-kick into the bottom corner to put Liverpool ahead.

The Hungarian’s influence in Europe continues to grow, with seven goal contributions in seven Champions League appearances this season.

Liverpool carried that momentum into the second half. Ekitike went close again, striking the post after a perfectly weighted through ball from Szoboszlai, but the Frenchman was once more denied.

Marseille briefly threatened to restore parity on the counter, with Mason Greenwood leading the break and squaring the ball to Hamed Traoré, but the midfielder’s effort flew over the bar, summing up a frustrating night for the hosts.

The visitors doubled their lead through an unfortunate own goal from Gerónimo Rulli, though Jeremie Frimpong’s intelligent run into the box was instrumental in creating the chaos that led to the breakthrough.

Liverpool sealed a commanding 3–0 victory deep into stoppage time as Cody Gakpo rifled a right-footed finish from the centre of the box into the bottom-right corner, following a well-timed assist from Ryan Gravenberch.

The result extends Liverpool’s unbeaten run to 12 matches in all competitions. With one group game remaining against Qarabag, the Reds are firmly in control of their destiny and well positioned for automatic qualification to the Champions League round of 16.

For Marseille, it was a rare blank. The Ligue 1’s top scorers this season, with 41 goals from 18 matches, were unable to breach Liverpool’s defence.

They now face a nervy final group fixture away at Club Brugge, sitting 19th in the table, just two points ahead of their Belgian hosts in 27th a clash that could define their European campaign.