{"id":21130,"date":"2026-01-20T23:54:48","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T23:54:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/20\/liverpool-announces-marseille-squad-as-mo-salah-returns-but-key-players-are-absent\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T23:54:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T23:54:48","slug":"liverpool-announces-marseille-squad-as-mo-salah-returns-but-key-players-are-absent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/20\/liverpool-announces-marseille-squad-as-mo-salah-returns-but-key-players-are-absent\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool announces Marseille squad as Mo Salah returns, but key players are absent"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n<\/p>\n
\n
Liverpool head to Marseille for the Champions League with Mohamed Salah back in the squad, but Ibrahima Konate will not be with the team<\/h2>\n
\n
\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Mo Salah has returned to Liverpool after his stay in AFCON (Image: Stu Forster\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n
Liverpool return Mohamed Salah to the squad and head to Marseille for their penultimate Champions League match with hopes pinned on.<\/p>\n
Despite a wobble at the beginning of this season, the Reds are still one of the teams poised to qualify for the knockouts, although they will still progress to the play-off stages. Liverpool have returned Salah to Merseyside after returning from the African Cup of Nations.<\/p>\n
The forward, who once again fell short for his country, will take part in Tuesday’s open training session and will strengthen Arne Slott’s options ahead of the trip to the Stade Velodrome. He was part of a 20-person travel group that departed from John Lennon Airport on Tuesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
One of the men not present was Ibrahima Konate. The defender will not be playing for his home country as things stand, but has already returned to France due to his absence due to family issues. Likely to partner Virgil van Dijk in the heart of defence, in Joe Gomez’s absence<\/p>\n
Liverpool’s squad included three goalkeepers with Giorgi Mamadashvili and Freddie Woodman providing cover for Alisson Becker. They include teenagers Rio Ngmoha and Trey Nyoni.<\/p>\n
Follow our Liverpool FB page! Keep up to date with the latest Liverpool news and more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/p>\n
read more: Manchester United and Liverpool at risk of scrutiny over Chelsea’s ‘hijack offer’<\/span><\/span>read more: Xabi Alonso “makes a call to Liverpool” after Real Madrid sack him, reveals his stance on replacing Arne Slott<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
The Reds continue to be without Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni for extended periods of time. Bradley is one of the latest Arsenal players to be sidelined with injury. Isaac was also injured in Liverpool’s win over Tottenham in north London.<\/p>\n
Slott’s team achieved a long-awaited victory last time out, defeating Inter Milan in the late stages at San Siro. Dominik Szoboszlai converted a controversial penalty towards the end of the game to give Italy three points.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
Ibrahima Konate returns to France for family reasons (Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
The Hungarian has been Liverpool’s top scorer in Europe this season and will be looking to prepare well for their final group game against Qarabag in a few weeks’ time. The Reds will be heavy favorites to secure three points there, with an automatic place in the last 16 still very real.<\/p>\n
If Van Dijk starts in the south of France as expected, it will be his 350th appearance for Liverpool. In doing so, he becomes the 50th player in Reds history to reach the landmark.<\/p>\n
Liverpool’s squad for the match against Marseille: Alisson, Gomez, Endo, Van Dijk, Kerkes, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Chiesa, Jones, Gakpo, Ekitike, Mamadashvili, Robertson, Woodman, Frimpong, Grabenbert, Nyoni, Ngmoha.<\/p>\n
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive Mirror Football content every day. Community members also receive special offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check it out whenever you like. If you are interested, please read our privacy notice.<\/p>\n
\n
\n
Sky Sports Premier League and EFL package discounts<\/p>\n
\n
This article contains affiliate links and we receive a commission from any sales we generate from them. learn more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\u00a349<\/p>\n
\u00a335<\/p>\n
sky<\/p>\n
Get the deal here<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
Sky has reduced the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025\/26 season, saving members \u00a3336 on their bill and offering more than 1,400 live matches from Premier League, EFL and more.<\/p>\n
Sky will broadcast at least 215 live Premier League matches next season, with an increase of up to 100 more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
![\"Mo](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36391326.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2248700094.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"Ibrahima](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36582303.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Fulham-v-Liverpool-Premier-League.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"content](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article33404045.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
<\/div>\n