Liverpool will head to France for their Champions League fixture as they visit Marseille on Wednesday, marking the first competitive meeting between the two sides since the 2008/2009 European season.
The Reds will take solid league-stage form into the contest, sitting ninth—just one place shy of bypassing the qualifying round for seeds 9–24—and will also look to extend their unbeaten run to 13 matches.
By contrast, Marseille have produced overall subpar results in the competition, sitting squarely mid-table in 16th.
They have also been inconsistent in a relatively weak Ligue 1, losing two of their last four matches, giving the Reds every reason to target a convincing victory as they look to end their own run of four straight Premier League draws.
With the taste of a deeply disappointing draw against Burnley still lingering, how might Arne Slot chose to line the Reds up vs. Marseille in order to take home all three points?
Starting XI:
Alisson Becker- Alisson still holds the mantle as Liverpool’s No. 1, but it’s beginning to feel as though the peak version of the Brazilian may be starting to fade. While the goal Burnley scored was difficult to stop, the fact remains that he failed to keep out the only shot he faced, and his on-ball distribution has looked less sharp in recent outings. He remains an invaluable veteran presence, but a high-quality performance against Marseille would go a long way toward reaffirming his enduring class.
Virgil van Dijk- Duh. The captain will start and will look to propel his team to their first clean-sheet victory in over a month.
Ibrahima Konaté- To be fair to Ibou, in a season where he has often looked like the weakest link, he has handled recent situations more calmly. After seeing Joe Gomez’s last outing at center back against Barnsley makes this an easy choice, there’s hope that the Frenchman can mark his homecoming with a rock-solid performance.
Milos Kerkez- I thought Milos delivered an excellent first half on the ball against Burnley and was unfortunate not to come away with an assist. Given my recent grievances with the lack of creativity down the left-hand side, I’d love to see him continue to bomb forward with a renewed confidence that seemed to be missing earlier in the campaign.
Dominik Szoboslai- Dom’s return to right-back could serve two purposes. First, with Conor Bradley ruled out for the remainder of the season and Frimpong thriving higher up the pitch, the club’s current circumstances almost demand it. Second, even if Slot had other options to reshuffle, a stint focused on defensive responsibility and delivery could benefit Szoboszlai, whose on-ball play has bordered on overconfidence in recent weeks. It may feel harsh to frame it as a “punishment” for a player who has contributed so much this season, but a mind-clearing shift in a role he has already shown real aptitude for could ultimately serve everyone well.
Ryan Gravenberch- Not much hesitation; Gravy has continued to be Liverpool’s best defensive- minded midfielder.
Curtis Jones- The Scouser thrived in his last European outing, leading all players in key metrics—including completed passes (67/70), line-breaking passes, and successful dribbles (3/3)—in a 1–0 win against Inter Milan. While he looked among the best on the pitch at the San Siro, his domestic performances have been a bit pedestrian, with his first G/A of the season coming against the Clarets. Hopefully, a return to Champions League nights can help Jones rediscover his full potential.
Alexis Mac Allister- Currently the most “hold-your-breath” selection in the squad. After coming on against Burnley, he skied a great chance in the 80th minute and later attempted an unnecessary hero-ball strike in injury time with one of Liverpool’s final possessions. With reinforcements returning and tactical reshuffling possible, this could very well be one of Macca’s last opportunities to prove he belongs in the team.
Florian Wirtz- Cody Gakpo simply wasn’t good enough in the last outing, and with Wirtz on fire in an advanced attacking role recently, I believe he should start on the left wing over the Dutchman. While Gakpo has relied heavily on his trademark cut move this season, Flo’s creativity and clinical finishing have been game-changing. I’d love to see him score again, which would make it five goals in his last seven appearances.
Jeremie Frimpong- Wednesday likely marks Mo Salah’s return from AFCON duty, but given the physical and emotional toll of a continental tournament, he’ll probably be content to make an appearance off the bench and build toward starting against Bournemouth, while Frimpong starts on the right in France. In my view, Slot underutilized the speedster against Burnley, so hopefully he can can link effectively with Szoboszlai and make numerous penetrating runs behind Marseille’s defense.
Hugo Ekitike- With Liverpool short on options at striker and Hugo’s blossoming partnership with Flo, there’s every reason to expect another Red Frenchman to start in his home country.