LIVERPOOL CRUSH MARSEILLE 3-0 AS DOMINIK SZOBOSZLAI AND GAKPO SHINE IN FRANCE
Liverpool continue their European dominance with a 3-0 win over Marseille, thanks to goals from Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo.
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Liverpool and Arne Slot continue to impress in Europe. What was expected to be a tough test for the Premier League champions against Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille turned out to be quite comfortable, with Slot’s team moving closer to qualifying for the Champions League last 16.
Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, an own goal caused by Jeremie Frimpong, and substitute Cody Gakpo gave Liverpool a well-deserved win in France, marking their ninth victory in 11 European away games under Slot. They could have won by an even bigger margin, but after recent struggles to turn chances into goals, Slot will still be happy with this solid victory.
Liverpool started confidently at the loud Stade Vélodrome. Slot used the same midfield diamond formation that worked well in their previous European game against Inter, but this time, Mohamed Salah was in the lineup. Salah, who was dropped against Inter after an interview at Leeds, returned to the starting lineup after playing in the Africa Cup of Nations.
“You’ll see the lineup tomorrow and then decide if there’s still a problem,” Slot said at the press conference when asked about his relationship with Salah. But the real questions are about Salah’s issues with Liverpool and Slot, not the other way around.
Both teams wore black armbands and applauded before the game to honour Rolland Courbis, a former Marseille player and manager who passed away on January 12th. Before the match, Marseille fans displayed a tifo of the Beatles reading a copy of La Provence newspaper with the headline ‘Que l’histoire se repete’ – Let history repeat itself – above a picture of Didier Drogba celebrating knocking Liverpool out of the Uefa Cup in 2004. In the end, the Marseille fans were more creative than their team.
The home side seemed more intimidated than the visitors and, unusually for a De Zerbi team, struggled to keep possession in the first half. Alisson saved a shot from Amine Gouiri and bravely stopped Benjamin Pavard, but Liverpool posed the only real threat.
Alexis Mac Allister, who played under De Zerbi at Brighton, missed an early chance before Hugo Ekitiké's goal was disallowed for offside after a Liverpool counterattack. Ryan Gravenberch took advantage of a mistake by Geoffrey Kondogbia to set up Salah, who then passed to Szoboszlai.
Marseille’s repeated errors frustrated their coach. Liverpool deserves credit for forcing these mistakes with their constant pressing and by cutting off passing options to the defenders. Another mistake led to a Liverpool counterattack, with Salah’s volley from Frimpong’s cross going just over the bar.
Liverpool took a deserved lead just before halftime after Balerdi fouled Gravenberch. After a VAR check for a possible handball, Szoboszlai scored from the free-kick, shooting under the wall and past the goalkeeper. It was a welcome goal for Szoboszlai, who had missed a penalty against Burnley and faced criticism after the FA Cup loss to Barnsley.
De Zerbi’s halftime talk seemed to motivate Marseille, who started the second half with more energy. Mason Greenwood forced Alisson into a good save with a dipping shot from 25 yards. Greenwood also led a dangerous attack, but Hamed Traoré shot over the bar with only the keeper to beat.
Between Greenwood’s chances, Ekitiké hit the post after a pass from Szoboszlai. Slot may have been reminded of his team’s struggles to finish off Burnley when Wirtz was denied by Rulli and Ekitiké missed another chance.
But those worries disappeared when Frimpong’s cross went into the net off Medina and Rulli. The goal was credited as an own goal by the keeper. Liverpool didn't care and added another goal in stoppage time when Gakpo scored from Gravenberch’s assist.
MARTIN ODEGAARD AND KAI HAVERTZ MISS FINAL TRAINING; CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HOPES FADING
Arsenal's Champions League hopes are in doubt as Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz miss final training ahead of the Atletico tie.
Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz didn’t show up for Arsenal’s open training on Monday, just a day before the crucial Champions League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid. Both missed Saturday’s comfortable 3-0 win over Fulham because of injuries: Odegaard with his knee and Havertz with a muscular problem.
Odegaard hurt his knee in last week’s draw with Atletico, while Havertz hasn’t played since picking up an issue against Newcastle. After beating Fulham, Mikel Arteta sounded confident they’d be ready for Atletico, but on Monday neither player was seen with the first team. That’s a big hint they won’t be involved at the Emirates.
Arteta is set to speak to the media soon, though don’t expect him to spill much; he’s known for keeping his cards close to his chest when it comes to team news.
There were a couple more missing faces at London Colney. Jurrien Timber (groin) and Mikel Merino (foot) were also absent. Timber hasn’t featured since before the international break, and it’s unclear when he’ll return, but Arsenal hope it’s before the end of the season. Merino’s been out nearly three months since foot surgery. He might not play again this month.
On the upside, Bukayo Saka was back in training after getting subbed at halftime against Fulham, where he started his first Premier League game since mid-March.
Now, Arsenal really have a headache. Odegaard, who scored 15 goals last season, just hasn’t looked the same. Staff are increasingly worried about him; he’s missed 25 games in all competitions this year, thanks to a pileup of injuries: two freak shoulder issues, two muscular injuries, and the recurring knee problem. When he’s fit, Odegaard can still make magic happen; just look at his four assists across six games in January, but right now, his body keeps letting him down.
Havertz’s story isn’t much brighter. He’s managed only 20 appearances this season, mostly because of a serious knee injury in the summer and more muscle problems afterward. He’s Arsenal’s top earner at £280,000 a week, while Odegaard sits fourth at £240,000. Having two high-paid players sidelined so often is not ideal, and Arsenal need answers.
To try to sort out this ongoing injury crisis, Arteta has reportedly brought in a trusted expert from the medical field to lead an investigation. Arsenal hope this move finally sheds some light on their troubled injury record.
DECLAN RICE ACCUSES REFEREE OF CRUMBLING UNDER PRESSURE IN MADRID PENALTY DRAMA
Arsenal head to the Emirates with a 1-1 draw, but Declan Rice is fuming over the officiating standards in the Champions League.
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Declan Rice didn’t hold back after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw in Madrid, backing Mikel Arteta’s outrage and insisting the team deserved a “clear” penalty. He even went so far as to say that Atlético Madrid’s fans pushed the referee, Danny Makkelie, into changing his mind.
Arteta was livid. Late in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal, Makkelie first pointed to the spot for Arsenal after Eberechi Eze went down. But surrounded by Diego Simeone’s wild sideline antics and the roar of 70,000 Atleti supporters, Makkelie stared at the replay 13 times, then flipped his call and waved play on.
Looking back on it, Rice couldn’t believe it. “It’s a clear penalty,” he said. “I don't know how that's not been given. I think the fans got to him and changed his mind. UEFA is just a different world. In both boxes, you have to be so careful because referees call everything.”
Arsenal ran into trouble with VAR twice. First, the ref ruled Ben White handled a Llorente volley, and Julián Álvarez buried the resulting penalty, cancelling out Viktor Gyökeres’ earlier spot-kick. Rice felt for White. Talking with Stan Sport, he said, “If that happens in the Premier League, it doesn’t get given. The ball’s hardly off the ground, and it’s not even on target. But in the Champions League, the refs make these snap calls and whistle for everything. It’s just more strict. But whatever, we move on. We want to beat them next week.”
Despite the drama, Arsenal is still in a solid spot. They’ll head back to London, hoping the home crowd can push them into their first Champions League final since 2006. Bukayo Saka, freshly back from an Achilles injury, is counting on it. “We’d have liked to win, but we’ll take the draw. It’s halftime, and we’re full of confidence going back to the Emirates,” he said. “I’m sure the atmosphere will be even bigger, and that will give us a real boost.”
Before that return leg, Arsenal face Fulham at home on Saturday. They could put more heat on Manchester City by stretching their Premier League lead, though City still has games in hand and plays Everton next. The race is on.
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