WHO: Marseille vs Liverpool
What: Matchday 7 (of 8), League Stage, UEFA Champions League
where: Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France
when: Wednesday at 9pm (20:00 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll turn on all the build-ups Al Jazeera Sport From 17:00 GMT in advance of our text commentary stream.
Liverpool, eyeing automatic top-eight entry into the UEFA Champions League (UCL) round of 16, travel to southern France to play Marseille in their final group stage match.
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The Reds, winners of three of their last four UCL fixtures, are currently ninth in the standings and could be looking at a dangerous playoff run if they can’t move up in their last two games.
Marseille are also knocking on the door of the top-eight competition, sitting just three points behind Liverpool and with their clash against the English Premier League champions to play.
Wednesday’s decisive encounter could decide which team advances to the final round of the last 16 and which team advances through the playoffs.
Will Mohamed Salah play against Marseille?
Mohamed Salah made his long-awaited return to Liverpool training on Tuesday following the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
The Egypt forward was taken out of his pace during a gentle workout with the rest of the squad at the club’s training centre.
Salah’s return has become a major talking point after he targeted Liverpool in an explosive interview earlier last month, accusing the club of throwing him “under the bus” after he was benched for three consecutive games and saying he had no relationship with manager Arne Slott.
But he appeared as a substitute in a 2–0 Premier League win against Brighton on 13 December, scoring an assist, and Slott later said the club had moved on from the anger.
Last week, Slott said he was “delighted” Salah would be returning, refusing to reveal the content of his conversation with the 33-year-old.
The Liverpool boss said he was unsure if the forward would play against Marseille.
Salah scored 29 league goals to win the Premier League Golden Boot as Liverpool won their 20th English league title, but has managed just four goals during the current campaign.
Englishman Greenwood is leading Marseille – and the Ligue 1 Golden Boot
Former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood leads the Ligue 1 2025-2026 top scorers chart with 12 goals in 17 appearances for Marseille.
He continued his hot scoring streak on Saturday, scoring in the 24th minute as Marseille maintained their pressure at the top of Ligue 1 with a stunning 5-2 win over Angers.
Greenwood’s incredible goal-scoring prowess led to an impressive 2024–2025 season with Marseille, where he finished as joint top scorer with Paris Saint-Germain superstar Ousmane Dembele with 21 goals.
The 24-year-old is a graduate of Manchester United’s youth system and played for the Red Devils from 2018-2024, scoring 22 goals in 83 appearances.
It has been five years since Greenwood made his only England squad, a narrow win over Iceland.
Where are Marseille and Liverpool in the Champions League standings?
With two match days remaining, Liverpool are ninth in the Champions League group with 12 points.
Marseille is in 16th place with three wins and three losses from six matches. They are one of five teams with nine points.
How many teams automatically qualify for the last 16 from the league stage?
The top eight clubs in the league stage automatically qualify for the round of 16.
Teams placed ninth to 24th face a two-legged knockout playoff round, with the winners advancing to the last 16 of the competition.
When did Liverpool and Marseille win the Champions League?
Liverpool have won the UEFA Champions League six times with the most recent title under head coach Jurgen Klopp in the 2018–2019 season.
Marseille won their only UEFA Champions League title in 1993 with a 1–0 win over AC Milan.
When did Liverpool last face Marseille in the Champions League?
Liverpool and Marseille will meet in the Champions League for the first time since the 2008-2009 season.
The two clubs have met four times in Champions League history with Liverpool holding a 3-1 lead over the French side.
Liverpool team news
The slot is tight on whether Salah will get a run against Marseille just days after the Egyptian star returned from AFCON.
Liverpool are still without their star of the season signing Alexander Isak, who is sidelined for another few weeks with a foot injury. Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leone are also out with lower body injuries.
Liverpool’s Predicted Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1):
Ellison (goalkeeper); Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenbirch; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo; Unity
Marseille team news
Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was also at the AFCON, is strongly tipped to return and lead the charge for Marseille against Liverpool.
Coach Roberto de Zerbi will be without the injured Ruben Blanco and Derek Cornelius.
Marseille’s predicted starting lineup (4-2-3-1):
Rulli (goalkeeper); Murillo, Balerdi, Medina, Emerson; O’Riley, Hojbjerg; Weah, Greenwood, Paixao; Aubameyang
Last five matches
Marcel: WLLWW (Most Recent Results Last, All Tournaments)
Liverpool: DWDDD (Most Recent Results Last, All Competitions)