Liverpool face Olympique Marseille in the penultimate round of fixtures in the Champions League league phase tonight, with the Reds looking to climb into the top eight with a win at the Stade Velodrome.

Arne Slot’s side started the week in ninth in the league phase table, before dropping to 11th following Tuesday night’s matches, but still just one point out of an automatic qualification top-eight spot.

But while the Reds are unbeaten in 11 matches, the performances have been far from convincing, and the pressure is on Slot to turn things around at Anfield with the club still in the fight in Europe and the FA Cup.

However, they face an in-form Marseille side in their penultimate game, with the French club looking to move level on points with the Reds ahead of a match against Club Brugge in the final round of fixtures.

Both sides are emerging from the tunnel at the Stade Velodrome, so we will be underway soon in this one!

Chris Wilson21 January 2026 19:56

Marseille vs Liverpool live

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

(AFP via Getty Images)

Chris Wilson21 January 2026 19:52

Slot speaks to TNT

“It’s not the first time we’ll play in a hostile stadium,” says Arne Slot in a pre-match chat with TNT.

“It’s a great stadium, great atmosphere, away fans have made the effort. It’s a hostile environment.

On Salah making a return, he explains: “Mo, only once he wasn’t in the squad. I think the moments when I didn’t play him once or twice, we were struggling, and although we want better results we steadied the ship.

“Now, we sometimes miss goals, and if there’s one player in the history of Liverpool who’s showed that he can score goals, it’s Mo Salah.

“Let’s hope we can keep our balance in terms of not conceding as much, and being able to create as much, then I’m sure Mo will be one of the players who’s able to score a goal.”

He adds that Konate is not present at the Stade Velodrome due to family matters.

Chris Wilson21 January 2026 19:47

Slot on de Zerbi

Here’s what Arne Slot had to say on Roberto de Zerbi ahead of tonight’s match:

“I regard him as one of the best managers in the world. In my opinion, it should not always be judged on the amount of trophies you win, it should also be judged on the fact of how you let your team play.

“I think he is already working at a very big club because Marseille is a very big club, [both] at the moment and history-wise as well. I’m not the one that is hiring coaches but if I was one, he would definitely be very high on a list if I worked at a big club. I always like to watch his teams.

“He’s a very good manager, it’s not always fair to judge managers only on what they win, the style of play should also be very important as well, in my opinion, and the development of players.

“That’s what you see with him, that players always develop very well and then sometimes when he leaves these players are not as good as they were with him and that usually tells me how good a manager you are,” he added.

(Getty Images)

Chris Wilson21 January 2026 19:40

Match stats

Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang has scored 13 goals in major European competition for Marseille, netting three in the Champions League this term and 10 in the 2023-24 UEFA Europa League. Only Jean-Pierre Papin (23) has scored more for the club across major European competitions (excluding qualifiers).

Only Kylian Mbappé (9) has been involved in more Champions League goals than Aubameyang this season (7). With three goals and four assists, it’s the Gabon striker’s second best return in a single campaign in the competition after 2016/17 (7 goals, 1 assist).

Chris Wilson21 January 2026 19:35

UCL table

Liverpool begin the day in 11th in the Champions League league phase table, though the Reds could potentially go as high as fourth with a win this evening (depending on results elsewhere).

Marseille are currently in 16th ahead of kick-off, though they could move as high as ninth with a win this evening.

Chris Wilson21 January 2026 19:25

Match stats

Marseille’s 2-1 win against Newcastle in November ended a 12-game winless run against English sides in all competitions (D3 L9).

The last time the French side beat two different Premier League clubs in the same European campaign was in 2003/04, when they beat Newcastle and Liverpool in the UEFA Cup.

Marseille are on a run of 30 UEFA Champions League games without a draw (W8 L22) while Liverpool haven’t drawn any of their last 27 (W19 L8). It’s the two longest runs without a draw in the competition’s history.

Chris Wilson21 January 2026 19:17

Why Arne Slot’s stalling revival could hinge on Liverpool’s trip to Marseille

Twelve-game unbeaten runs do not tend to be greeted by boos. The soundtrack on the final whistle at Anfield on Saturday, however, showed it is possible to be undefeated but unimpressive. Make it 13 at the Stade Velodrome and there will be greater reasons to argue a corner has been turned.

As it is, Liverpool have headed to Marseille with the jury out: on a revival that has seem to have stalled on Arne Slot. Social media polls and knee-jerk reactions are no reliable guide, and nor should they be the basis for sound decision-making, yet while Liverpool have plenty to play for in three competitions, the next few months are also significant for a sense of feeling: is the team headed in the right direction, the manager finding a formula that incorporates many of the arrivals in a record spending spree, or are Slot’s Liverpool going nowhere?

Chris Wilson21 January 2026 19:10

Team news

Roberto de Zerbi has made two changes to the team that beat Angers 5-2 at the weekend. Benjamin Pavard replaces Emerson at left wingback, while Bilal Nadir drops out in favour of Geoffrey Kondogbia in midfield.

Chris Wilson21 January 2026 19:02

Team news

Mohamed Salah returns for Liverpool as Arne Slot makes three changes to the side that drew to Burnley. Salah replaces Cody Gakpo on the wing, with Alexis Mac Allister coming in for Curtis Jones and Joe Gomez replacing Ibrahima Konate in defence.

Chris Wilson21 January 2026 18:57