{"id":21274,"date":"2026-01-22T09:27:30","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T09:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/22\/liverpool-close-in-on-a-crucial-top-eight-spot-with-comfortable-win-over-marseille-5-talking-points\/"},"modified":"2026-01-22T09:27:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T09:27:30","slug":"liverpool-close-in-on-a-crucial-top-eight-spot-with-comfortable-win-over-marseille-5-talking-points","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/22\/liverpool-close-in-on-a-crucial-top-eight-spot-with-comfortable-win-over-marseille-5-talking-points\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool close in on a crucial top eight spot with comfortable win over Marseille – 5 talking points"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Marseille 0-3 Liverpool: Dominik Szoboszlai guides the Reds to a convincing victory in France and rockets them up the Champions League places with one game remaining<\/h2>\n
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Liverpool are closing in on the Champions League last 16 (Image: 2026 Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n
Liverpool furthered their Champions League ambitions with an impressive win at Marseille as Dominik Szoboszlai guided the Reds into the top eight.<\/p>\n
Although Arne Slott’s side remain unstable in the Premier League, they have secured some impressive status in Europe and can add victory at the Stade Velodrome to their list of achievements. The French side, which boasted the likes of Mason Greenwood and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, was largely contained.<\/p>\n
Liverpool, on the other hand, more than deserved the win with Szoboszlai scoring the opening goal in the first half. His clever free-kick under the wall added to the score in the second half, with Jeremy Frimpong breaking down the right flank for Facundo Medina to slot the ball into his own goal and Kodi Gakpo scoring the third goal in stoppage time.<\/p>\n
It could have been more than that. Hugo Ekitike saw an earlier shot ruled out for offside following VAR intervention. The forward, who plays for his home country, was denied by the woodwork early in the second half as the Reds threatened to add another point. Florian Wirtz’s shot was denied by Geronimo Rulli who made a great save moments later.<\/p>\n
Former Arsenal and Chelsea frontman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was brought on from the bench but was unable to find the equalizer the hosts were looking for.<\/p>\n
read more: Steven Gerrard accuses Liverpool stars of letting Arne Slott down amid criticism<\/span><\/span>read more: Liverpool target Micky van de Ven to give Tottenham a big summer transfer dilemma<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Instead, it was Frimpong who almost made the game safe with 20 minutes left. He waltzed past his opponents, reached the line and fired a cross into the Marseille net. Gakpo came off the bench to add some sparkle to the scoreline and the Dutchman finished cleanly with compatriot Ryan Gravenbirch finding him with time and space.<\/p>\n
The Reds host Azerbaijan side Karabag in their final Champions League match. They will be firm favorites as Slott looks to make an impact on the European stage, but this box wasn’t ticked last season.<\/p>\n
Here are five stories from the south of France.<\/p>\n
dom spot on<\/h3>\n
He’s just deadly from set pieces. He has produced some spectacular free-kicks since joining the Reds, particularly against Arsenal earlier this season, showing how creative he can be with his deadlock-breaking shots. To all those who laughed at the man who lay behind the wall, now you know why.<\/p>\n
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Dominik Szoboszlai’s clever thinking broke the deadlock (Image: )<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Szoboszlai showed his worth at right-back at the start of the season, but there is no doubt that midfield is his best position. The signing of the Hungarian certainly eased the pain of losing long-time set-piece specialist Trent Alexander-Arnold. There is a man in Szoboszlai who is just as dangerous.<\/p>\n
right where you need it<\/h3>\n
Following their victory in the south of France, Liverpool became one of four teams in the Premier League to ensure they go into next week’s final round with the hope of automatic qualification. The slot side advanced to the top 8 and advanced to the last 16.<\/p>\n
When PSG beat them at Anfield last season, they learned that finishing in the top eight doesn’t guarantee promotion, but it certainly makes life easier. If Liverpool’s domestic season has been a challenge this term, they have looked far more confident in Europe.<\/p>\n
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Jeremy Frimpong doubles Liverpool’s lead (Image: )<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
red is hard to read<\/h3>\n
It’s been almost two months since Liverpool last lost in any competition. A 4-1 defeat to PSV at Anfield felt like it was doomed to continue, as there was a lack of confidence and direction from the Merseyside players.<\/p>\n
However, they managed to break out of the rut and if being undefeated is anything to go by, Slott has put them back on the right track. The problem is that the Reds and the teams they don’t win against always get off to false starts. They played Burnley at Anfield before heading to France. Although not a full-fledged Liverpool team, they are much harder to beat and showed they can cope with the cauldron-like atmosphere of the Stade Velodrome without any problems.<\/p>\n
What is going on with De Zerbi now?<\/h3>\n
Fast forward 18 months and there were question marks over Erik ten Hag’s future, with talk of the Italian becoming Manchester United manager. The vacancy will take effect in the summer, but Roberto De Zerbi’s name will not be thrown around like it was when he left Brighton.<\/p>\n
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Marseille, led by Roberto De Zerbi, had no answer for the Reds (Image: )<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
He proved he could punch well above his weight with the Seagulls and earned a job with Marseille’s venerable European side. He was successfully acquitted, but not necessarily to further his goal of stepping up. Only time will tell if he can find another level.<\/p>\n
Gomez tries it<\/h3>\n
If Ibrahima Konate had to return home to deal with family issues, Joe Gomez would likely have started another game on the bench. So far this season, he has featured more as a sub than as a starter, and is definitely ranked above Konate.<\/p>\n
There is also talk of him transferring. If it weren’t for Liverpool’s shortage of centre-half players, both sides might consider whether a move is possible. However, as things stand, Gomez will no doubt be called upon from time to time, and he has shown that he is more than capable of stepping up when needed.<\/p>\n
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![\"Liverpool](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36592653.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/1_GettyImages-2257463560.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"Dominik](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36592617.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2257463539.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"Jeremy](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36592688.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2257469879.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"Marseille,](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36592619.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-2256889367.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>![\"content](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article33374947.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\")
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