Liverpool see off Marseille to close on Champions League last 16

MARSEILLE – Liverpool manager Arne Slot has praised Mohamed Salah’s professionalism, after the forward returned in a 3-0 victory at Marseille on Jan 21 as the Reds took a big step towards automatic qualification for the Champions League last 16.

Dominik Szoboszlai put the six-time European champions ahead on the stroke of half-time, before a Geronimo Rulli own goal and Cody Gakpo strike added gloss to the scoreline in the second period.

Slot’s men, now unbeaten in 13 matches in all competitions, climbed to fourth in the 36-team table and will secure a top-eight finish with a win over Azerbaijan’s Qarabag at Anfield next week.

A surprisingly toothless display from Roberto de Zerbi’s Marseille left them in 19th place and with work to do at Club Brugge in their final league match to reach the knockout play-off round.

Salah made his first start for Liverpool since November, after being dropped to the bench by Slot, before helping Egypt reach the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals.

The Egyptian had accused the club of throwing him “under the bus” during a run of poor results which led to him being left out of the squad for their previous Champions League game at Inter Milan.

But all is well now that he is back with the squad and his relationship with Slot seemingly fine.

“It says a lot about how big a professional he is that he can be away for more than a month with a different team and be so fit to play 90 for us after one day’s training,” Slot said.

“It helps he is already for so long with us so he knows his teammates and he knows how we want to play. He was so close to a goal, it would usually be a goal from him, but it didn’t harm us because we scored three.”

The Reds started brightly at the Stade Velodrome, with Joe Gomez missing a chance to end his long wait for a maiden senior goal when he headed a corner wide.

Alexis Mac Allister also went close for the visitors, before Hugo Ekitike had a goal ruled out for offside.

Liverpool had a penalty appeal for handball against Timothy Weah waved away, but they took the lead in first-half added time from a free kick given for a foul later in the same move.

Szoboszlai, who missed a penalty in the English Premier League draw with Burnley at the weekend, stepped up to sweep the ball under a jumping wall and past Marseille goalkeeper Rulli.

The home side showed some promising signs early in the second half, with Alisson Becker saving well from a long-range Mason Greenwood shot.

France striker Ekitike continued to miss chances, hammering another presentable opportunity over.

But Liverpool put the game to bed with 18 minutes to play as Jeremie Frimpong did brilliantly to wriggle to the byeline before his low cross was deflected into his own net by Rulli.

Salah squandered a glorious opportunity to score his first club goal in seven matches late on, but substitute Gakpo did grab Liverpool’s third on the night in the last minute of stoppage time.

“We always keep saying it after a win or a good result,” captain Virgil van Dijk told TNT Sports, of Liverpool’s attempts to build momentum in a difficult season so far for the Premier League title-holders.

“It’s always difficult to play against de Zerbi teams because if you aren’t front-footed, they can play out pretty easy. They keep on playing and taking a risk, so if you win the ball between the lines, then you have a chance. I’m pleased with the team, everybody put a shift in.

“Fully focus on recovery now and then we go to Bournemouth (on Jan 24 in the Premier League) and they’re hard to beat. We have to be more than ready.” AFP, REUTERS