Liverpool have one foot in the knockouts after a routine win over Marseille.
From the start, Liverpool looked fluid and ready to take the game to their Champions League opponents. It was a great performance only missing a goal.
That reward would come in the 45th minute, when Liverpool won a free-kick on the edge of Marseille’s box. Dominik Szoboszlai channeled his inner Coutinho, slipping it under the wall to give the Reds a well-deserved lead at the interval.
The game opened up in the second half. Hugo Ekitike came close a couple of times before Jeremie Frimpong carried on his brilliant attacking form, making Liverpool’s second — an own-goal.
Cody Gakpo scored a third at the death to secure the win and put Liverpool in a strong position heading into the final matchday. 3-0.
Who was your man of the match during the win over Marseille?
Nice to have a few contenders!
Liverpool player ratings vs Marseille
Alisson Becker – 6
Alisson was tested just once in the first half, and a couple of half-chances in the second. Mostly unbusy. A brilliant save in stoppage time.
Jeremie Frimpong – 7
We wondered how Salah and Frimpong could play together. The returning Egyptian played more centrally, allowing his right-back to operate freely on the right flank. He won’t get the credit for Liverpool’s second, but he made that all by himself.
Joe Gomez – 6
It went some way to easing Liverpool’s recent centre-back woes that Gomez was so good at the back. His passing was pin-point and he stayed mostly solid.
Virgil van Dijk – 6
The Liverpool captain’s 350th appearance for the club was like most others. He was unchallenged for the most part, but always ready to sweep up trouble.
Milos Kerkez – 8
Brilliant from Kerkez tonight. Looked like the player who broke out at Bournemouth last season. Crosses were frequent and ever-dangerous. Defensively, too, he was impassable. A real statement performance in the Champions League.
Ryan Gravenberch – 6
More positive from Gravenberch. He looked to progress the ball through the midfield and was key to dealing with an unorthodox De Zerbi press. A team-focused performance Arne Slot will be delighted with.
Alexis Mac Allister – 6
Mac Allister played his deeper role well, dropping back to collect possession and distributing to the attacking midfielders ahead of him.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 7
The free-kick was glorious. Shades of Coutinho, Ronaldinho, Payet. A huge moment for Szoboszlai, becoming the first Liverpool player since Trent Alexander-Arnold to score multiple free-kicks in a season.
Full-time in Marseille, what are your takeaways from a much better night?
Florian Wirtz – 5
In almost every game, there are moments from German that leave you speechless. He would admit it wasn’t his most impactful performance.
Mohamed Salah – 5
Salah starting bodes well for Liverpool. He did look a step slow, and that was never more apparent than when he scuffed what would usually be a gilt-edged opportunity in the late stages.
Hugo Ekitike – 7
Ekitike thought he had opened the scoring mid-way through the first half, but the offside flag deprived him of yet another Liverpool goal. He came agonisingly close again just before the hour mark, rattling the crossbar.
A real live wire — could have had a hat-trick. Ended with none.
Substitutions
Curtis Jones – 5
Decent.
Cody Gakpo – 6
Took his goal well.
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