Mohamed Salah’s first start since November ignited a 3-0 Liverpool rout in Marseille, ending a turbulent month and thrusting Arne Slot’s side into the Champions League’s top-eight with one match to play.
Salah straight back in, Liverpool instantly click
Mohamed Salah walked into the Stade Vélodrome starting XI and Liverpool looked like Liverpool again. The 3-0 victory—sealed by Dominik Szoboszlai’s clever free-kick, an own goal forced by Jérémy Frimpong’s cut-back intended for Salah, and Cody Gakpo’s stoppage-time tap-in—was the Reds’ most convincing Champions League display since Matchday 3.
Salah’s rust showed—he ballooned an 83rd-minute sitter over the bar—but his mere presence stretched Marseille vertically, creating the space Szoboszlai and Gakpo exploited. Liverpool’s expected goals (xG) jumped to 2.4, their highest in a UCL away fixture this season AP.
The benching saga ends with a statement
Slot’s decision to exile Salah after the Nov. 26 4-1 home humiliation versus PSV was framed as disciplinary. Salah responded by telling reporters he felt “thrown under the bus,” fueling speculation the 33-year-old’s Anfield era was unraveling AP.
Wednesday night buried that narrative. Slot started Salah wide right, instructed Trent Alexander-Arnold to funnel early diagonal balls his way, and watched Marseille double-team the Egyptian—freeing Szoboszlai to arrive late and smash the opener. It was tactical vindication for the Dutch coach and psychological liberation for his star.
Top-eight berth now a formality
The win vaults Liverpool to fourth in the 36-team Champions League standings with one game remaining. A home date versus Azerbaijani champions Qarabag next Wednesday—currently 28th—means Slot can rotate and still secure a direct round-of-16 berth, avoiding the two-legged knockout playoff UEFA.
Key metrics underline the turnaround:
- 13-match unbeaten streak across all competitions (7 wins, 6 draws)
- Four clean sheets in last six UCL matches
- Salah directly involved in 17 goals in 18 starts this season (11 G, 6 A)
What’s next for Salah and Liverpool?
With the Saudi Pro League window open only until Feb. 1, Wednesday’s performance slams shut exit rumors. Salah’s camp has privately indicated he wants to see out the final 18 months of his contract if Champions League football is secured AP. A top-eight finish makes that scenario almost certain.
Domestically, Liverpool face a League Cup semifinal second leg at Tottenham this weekend before a Premier League trip to Brentford. Salah’s reintegration adds cutting edge to a side that drew four straight league games during AFCON, allowing Arsenal and Chelsea to sniff the title race.
Fan verdict: belief restored
Anfield social feeds exploded after Gakpo’s third goal, the phrase “Salah is back” trending worldwide within minutes. Supporters who questioned Slot’s ruthlessness now praise his ability to reset squad hierarchy without permanent damage. Bookmakers shortened Liverpool’s Champions League outright odds from 14-1 to 10-1 overnight, reflecting renewed market confidence.
One win from securing a seeded spot in the round of 16, Liverpool’s season has pivoted from mini-crisis to legitimate multi-front contender in 90 minutes. If Salah’s smile at full-time is any indicator, the Egyptian King isn’t abdicating anytime soon.
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