Liverpool shines against Marseille and eases pressure on the coach.

Liverpool took a decisive step towards automatic qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League by delivering an impressive performance that resulted in a convincing 3-0 victory against Marseille at the Stade Vélodrome. This triumph not only marks the fifth European win in seven matches but also elevates the Reds to fourth place in the table, easing the growing pressure on manager Arne Slot, who had come off four consecutive draws in the Premier League. With this victory, Liverpool secured their passage to the knockout phase after qualifying for the playoff stage.

The match began with Hugo Ekitiké believing he had opened the scoring, finishing off a fluid Liverpool move in which Mohamed Salah also participated, returning from an international duty. However, replays showed the forward was slightly offside. Dominik Szoboszlai did not let VAR deny him his moment to shine, scoring a clever direct free kick that went straight into the bottom corner of the net in stoppage time of the first half.

In the second half, Liverpool sealed the victory when Jeremie Frimpong forced an own goal from Marseille goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli. To cap it off, substitute Cody Gakpo had the honor of adding another goal to the tally with the last touch of the game.

### Liverpool Player Ratings (4-2-2-2)

**GK: Alisson—8.6:** Had a solid performance, repelling Marseille’s only attempt in the first half and making spectacular saves against Mason Greenwood and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the second half. A surprisingly quiet night for the Brazilian, who was the standout performer.

**RB: Jeremie Frimpong—7.3:** Always active in attack, he was responsible for Liverpool’s second goal after a blistering sprint.

**CB: Joe Gomez—7.6:** Despite an inconsistent season, he delivered a solid performance, stepping in for Ibrahima Konaté, playing with confidence and securing the much-desired clean sheet.

**CB: Virgil van Dijk—7.4:** Commanded the defense with an imperial display, neutralizing a Marseille attack that had scored 22 goals in the last five matches.

**LB: Milos Kerkez—7.4:** Beginning to show that he is adapting well to Liverpool, he presented a robust defensive performance while also contributing to the attack.

**DM: Ryan Gravenberch—8.3:** Essential in protecting the defense and creating offensive plays, he was the one who won the free kick that led to Szoboszlai’s goal and also assisted the third goal.

**DM: Alexis Mac Allister—7.5:** Controlled the game from deeper positions, keeping the team functioning under Marseille’s pressure, looking more like his usual self.

**AM: Dominik Szoboszlai—8.3:** After assisting Ekitiké’s disallowed goal, he scored the opener with a well-executed free kick. His performance was tireless, contributing to the third goal with an elegant touch.

**AM: Florian Wirtz—7.2:** Had a relatively quiet night, failing to keep up with the offensive contributions. Improved in the second half but appeared a bit hesitant on the ball.

**ST: Mohamed Salah—7.1:** Despite some flashes of quality, especially after returning from an international commitment, he was not very involved in the game.

**ST: Hugo Ekitiké—7.4:** He came close to scoring but was thwarted by VAR and ended up seeing a shot hit the crossbar. He was an electric presence on the pitch, although luck was not on his side.

**Unused substitutes:** Giorgi Mamardashvili (GK), Freddie Woodman (GK), Andy Robertson, Wataru Endo, Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha.

**Marseille (4-4-2):** Gerónimo Rulli; Amir Murillo, Bejamin Pavard, Leonardo Balerdi, Facundo Medina; Timothy Weah, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Hamed Traoré; Amine Gouiri, Mason Greenwood.

**Substitutes used:** Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Igor Paixão, Bilal Nadir.

**Player of the Match:** Alisson

The 3-0 victory over Marseille not only solidifies Liverpool’s position in the competition but also serves as a clear warning to their rivals: the Reds are back and ready to fight for major goals this season.