Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has emphasized the critical importance of securing a top-eight Champions League finish, a goal that became significantly more attainable following their commanding 3-0 victory in Marseille. This win marked only the second time this season that Slot’s squad has defeated a top-tier opponent by a three-goal margin, a feat previously achieved against Eintracht Frankfurt. The goals came from a stunning Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick, an unfortunate own goal by Geronimo Rulli, and a late strike from Cody Gakpo, propelling Liverpool into fourth place in the standings.
This crucial win positions Liverpool two points ahead of ninth-placed Barcelona. With Qarabag scheduled to visit Anfield next week, the team is focused on avoiding the play-off round and securing a direct entry into the last 16 of the competition. This strategic objective is paramount, especially considering the team’s ongoing injury challenges.
“It’s very important because we have had to play with the same players because of injuries for most of the season,” Slot explained after his team extended their unbeaten run to an impressive 13 matches, currently the longest streak in Europe’s top-five leagues. He believes this has contributed to energy dips in some games.
“That could be the reason why we have run out of energy in some of the games when we’ve conceded,” Slot elaborated. “I don’t think Virgil (van Dijk) has had more than three days off, the same for Ryan (Gravenberch) and others but they constantly show up no matter how many setbacks we’ve had this season.”
Featured snippet paragraph: The answer is that Arne Slot is prioritizing a top-eight Champions League finish to avoid play-off rounds and directly qualify for the last 16, a crucial goal given Liverpool’s injury-plagued season and pursuit of European progression.
Slot acknowledged the inherent difficulty of playing Marseille, citing their passionate fanbase and the high quality of their players, further amplified by the tactical acumen of their manager. “It’s always very difficult to play Marseille because of their passionate fans and the quality of their players, but what makes it even harder is the quality of their manager,” he stated.
The team was meticulously prepared for the encounter. “We were prepared for that. We took the ball off them three or four times in the first half but couldn’t find the player who was completely free, apart from one time and he (Hugo Ekitike) was fractionally offside,” Slot noted, highlighting missed opportunities.
“On the ball we were controlled but what made the difference this time was that after we had a big chance and hit the post, they had a big chance and put it over: usually this season that goes in,” he observed, contrasting the game’s flow with past experiences.
“But we were able to make it 2-0, 3-0 and so that makes the perception of the game completely different,” Slot added, underscoring the impact of scoring multiple goals.
He contrasted the efficiency of this match with their recent league performance. “Against Burnley (Saturday’s 1-1 draw) we created three or four times more than we did tonight but tonight we scored three,” he pointed out, emphasizing the clinical finishing displayed against Marseille.
The match also saw the significant return of Mohamed Salah, who rejoined the squad after his extended period at the Africa Cup of Nations. His re-entry followed his public comments about feeling “thrown under the bus” during a difficult patch for the team. Slot praised Salah’s professionalism and immediate impact.
“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 commented. “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.”
Marseille’s manager, Roberto De Zerbi, expressed his dissatisfaction with his team’s performance. “We played poorly, conceding a silly goal before half-time,” he admitted. “We lost possession too often in the middle because we misunderstood the game, we misjudged their pressing. We had a few chances that we didn’t manage well. We still have too many ups and downs in our matches.”
Arne Slot’s strategic approach and the team’s resilience are key factors as they navigate the remainder of the Champions League season, with a clear focus on achieving that coveted top-eight position.
