Liverpool will take on Marseille at Orange Velodrome in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, looking to get back to winning ways.
Liverpool have failed to win four of their last five matches in all competitions, and they are under a lot of pressure to bounce back strongly in the game vs Marseille. It has been a disappointing season for the Reds, and they need to raise their performance levels if they want to reach the next round of the competition.
Arne Slot’s men are currently ninth in the UEFA Champions League standings, and it remains to be seen whether they can grind out a victory away from home. On the other hand, Marseille are 16th in the table, and they will look to pick up a win at home.
The French outfit will look to exploit Liverpool’s vulnerabilities and grind out a positive result here. The Ligue 1 giants have picked up two wins from their last three matches, and they will fancy their chances against Liverpool. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead fo the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Marseille
The home team will be without Derek Cornelius (muscle) on Wednesday. Marseille are likely to shape up in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Liverpool, with Geronimo Rulli in goal.
Amir Murillo and Emerson Palmierio will start in the full-back positions, looking to keep things tight defensively and hit Liverpool on the break. Leonardo Balerdi and Facundo Medina will form the central defensive partnership.
As for the midfield unit, Bilal Nadir and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg will pair up in the double pivot in the middle of the park, and they will look to add defensive cover and control to the side from the deep.
Mason Greenwood will start in the attacking midfield role and look to create opportunities for his teammates and find the back of the net. Igor Paixao and Timothy Weah will be deployed on the flanks. They will look to add pace, flair, and unpredictability in the final third. Finally, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will lead the line for Marseille vs Liverpool on Wednesday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Rulli; Murillo, Balerdi, Medina, Emerson; Nadir, Hojbjerg; Weah, Greenwood, Paixao; Aubameyang
Liverpool
The away team will be without Giovanni Leoni (knee), Wataru Endo (knee), Conor Bradley (knee), and Alexander Isak (fracture) on Wednesday. Liverpool are likely to start in a 4-2-3-1 formation vs Marseille, with Alisson Becker in goal.
Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez will start as the full-backs. They will look to help out at both ends of the pitch. Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk will pair up at the heart of the Liverpool defence.
As for the midfield unit, Ryan Gravenberch will start alongside Dominik Szoboszlai in the double pivot, aiming to add control and composure to the team. Alexis Mac Allister will look to create opportunities for teammates in the final third.
Hugo Ekitike will spearhead the Liverpool attack vs Marseille with Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo on either side of him. So, Mohamed Salah will be a backup option on the bench for the away side this midweek.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Wirtz, Mac Allister, Gakpo; Ekitike
Key Stats
- Liverpool have won their last threee matches against Marseille in all competitions.
- 14 goals have been scored in the last six matches between these two teams.
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last six matches in all competitions.
- Marseille have won three of their last five UEFA Champions League matches.
- Liverpool have picked up four wins from their last six matches in the UEFA Champions League.
Player to Watch
Hugo Ekitike
The Liverpool striker has done quite well since joining the club, and he is our key player here. He will need to step up and deliver in the final third. Liverpool have struggled to find the back of the net in the last few Premier League matches, and Marseille will look to shut them out here.
The French international attacker will need to create opportunities for his teammates and be sharp with his finishing in front of the goal. Liverpool will need him to produce a strong performance here if they want to pick up all three points.
Prediction
Marseille 2-2 Liverpool
Marseille managed to score five goals in their last match, and they could cause all sorts of problems for Liverpool here. However, they have conceded four goals in their last two matches. The Reds are struggling defensively, and they have not been at their best going forward either.
Both teams will look to outscore each other, and this is likely to be an open contest with plenty of chances. The two sides are likely to get on the score sheet here, but they will end up sharing the spoils in a draw.
