Marseille vs Liverpool

The Orange Vélodrome prepares for a seismic European clash tonight, Wednesday, January 21, 2026, as Olympique de Marseille hosts Liverpool. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT (15:00 ET).

This Matchday 7 fixture is pivotal for both sides. Liverpool currently sits in 9th place (12 points), needing just one point to guarantee a knockout play-off spot, though Arne Slot is targeting the top eight for direct entry. Marseille, managed by the highly coveted Roberto De Zerbi, sits in 16th place (9 points) and aims to leverage their home cauldron to move into the seeded play-off bracket.

Match Information

Marseille: De Zerbi's Goal Machine

Marseille enters this fixture as the most prolific attack in Ligue 1, having netted 41 goals in 18 matches. De Zerbi's side is coming off a scintillating 5–2 win over Angers, but the Italian manager—currently linked with the vacant Manchester United job—has warned his team about their defensive inconsistency.

Team News and Selection:

• Injury Blow: Defender Emerson Palmieri was ruled out hours ago with a thigh injury. Nayef Aguerd is also a major doubt following his return from the AFCON final with Morocco.

• Key Absences: Facundo Medina (ankle), Amine Gouiri (shoulder), and Hamed Traoré remain sidelined.

• The "O'Riley" Factor: Former Brighton star Matt O'Riley is expected to start in midfield to provide technical control against Liverpool’s high press.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Rulli; Murillo, Balerdi, Meité, Merlin; Højbjerg, O'Riley; Greenwood, Carboni, Luis Henrique; Aubameyang.

Liverpool: The King Returns

Arne Slot has received a massive boost with the return of Mohamed Salah, who joined the squad in France yesterday after his AFCON campaign with Egypt. However, the Reds are traveling light; only 17 outfield players made the trip, and the defense is looking particularly thin.

Team News and Selection:

• Konaté Absence: Ibrahima Konaté did not travel due to personal family matters, meaning Joe Gomez will likely partner Virgil van Dijk.

• Medical Room: Alexander Isak (broken leg), Conor Bradley (knee surgery), and Giovanni Leoni (ACL) are long-term absentees.

• Midfield Rotation: Alexis Mac Allister is expected to return to the starting lineup after being rested over the weekend.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Wirtz, Szozboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitiké.

? Champions League Standings (Mid-Table)

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

Marseille’s strategy will revolve around high-risk, high-reward ball progression. Roberto De Zerbi will likely invite Liverpool’s press, hoping to use Pierre-Emile Højbjerg to bypass the first line and feed the pace of Mason Greenwood and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Liverpool, meanwhile, has become somewhat of a "draw specialist" recently, with six draws in their last twelve matches. While the return of Salah adds a world-class clinical edge, the absence of Konaté in the heart of defense could be exploited by Marseille's fluid front three. Expect a high-scoring affair in one of Europe's most hostile environments.

Final Score Prediction: Marseille 2–2 Liverpool