Olympique Marseille 0-3 Liverpool Player Ratings: Szoboszlai Stunner Secures Comfortable Win for the Reds

Liverpool travelled to Marseille’s home at the Orange Vélodrome for their Champions League clash. The game was controlled from the very first whistle, with the Reds dominating possession and dictating the tempo throughout.

Marseille tried to stay compact and absorb pressure, looking for opportunities on the counter. However, it was the visitors who drew first blood just before halftime when Dominik Szoboszlai curled a brilliant free-kick into the bottom corner in the first minute of added time. The goal gave one of the best football clubs, Liverpool, the momentum heading into the break.

The second half saw the Reds continue to push themselves forward.

Their dominance paid off again when a 72nd-minute Gerónimo Rulli own goal doubled the lead midway through the period. Marseille tried to respond, but the Reds’ defensive organisation left them with few clear-cut chances.

The game was finally sealed in stoppage time when Cody Gakpo finished with composure to make it 3–0, ensuring a comprehensive and commanding night for Liverpool.

Arne Slot's boys created more shots, controlled possession, and limited Marseille’s opportunities, turning control into clinical execution.

Sportsdunia brings you the Marseille vs Liverpool Player Ratings from this Champions League clash below.

Key Takeaways

• The Reds controlled possession and dictated the game from start to finish.
• Szoboszlai’s first-half free-kick and Rulli’s own goal set the tone for victory.
• Gakpo’s stoppage-time goal sealed a comprehensive 3–0 win.

Liverpool Player Ratings vs Olympique Marseille

Let's delve into the Liverpool Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Alisson - 7.5: What stood out to us was his calmness under pressure. Made three crucial saves, a couple of which were top-drawer to keep his team's lead intact when Marseille were pushing. Commanded his area well and his distribution was solid. A very reassuring presence.

Defenders

Joe Gomez - 7.0: A really tidy performance. Achieving 100% pass accuracy is no small feat in a European away game. He was solid, made six clearances, and didn't seem flustered at all. He did miss a headed chance but his defensive work was what mattered.

Virgil van Dijk - 7.5: The captain was an absolute colossus. He made a staggering ten clearances and won almost every aerial battle he competed in. His reading of the game was immense, cutting out danger before it even developed. A true leader's performance at the back.

Milos Kerkez - 7.0: We were impressed by his energy and tenacity. He won an impressive seven of his ten duels, showing great fight down the left flank. He wasn't just about defending either, getting forward to create a chance. A very solid all-round display.

Jeremie Frimpong - 6.5: A bit of a mixed evening for the wing-back. He was a willing runner and tried to get crosses in but he lost the ball quite a bit and struggled in his duels. His effort was there, no doubt, but the final quality wasn't quite there for us.

Midfielders

Florian Wirtz - 7.0: He was a livewire, constantly looking to make things happen. Had three shots, though most were blocked, and was always trying to find a killer pass. The downside was losing possession 12 times, which is a bit too high for our liking. A creative but sometimes frustrating performance.

Dominik Szoboszlai - 8.5: The undisputed Man of the Match. The free-kick goal was a thing of beauty, pure world-class technique that decided the game. Beyond the goal, he controlled the tempo, created a big chance, and was the engine of his team. A masterful display.

Alexis Mac Allister - 6.5: A very busy but slightly ineffective night. He saw a lot of the ball and his passing accuracy was high, but he lost possession too frequently in key areas. He worked hard defensively, but we expected more influence going forward.

Ryan Gravenberch - 7.5: This was a powerhouse performance. From our perspective, winning 9 out of 13 duels in midfield is incredible. He was strong in the tackle, made key interceptions, and showed his quality on the ball. A very impressive outing.

Forwards

Mohamed Salah - 6.0: A strangely quiet game by his lofty standards. He missed a big chance he'd usually bury and just couldn't seem to get into the game. He still managed to create a big chance for a teammate, but it was far from a vintage Salah performance.

Hugo Ekitiké - 6.5: A night of 'what ifs' for the striker. He was unlucky to have a goal chalked off by VAR and even unluckier to hit the crossbar. However, he also missed a big chance. He was a constant nuisance but his finishing let him down.

Substitutes

Curtis Jones - N/A: Brought on late in the game to help see out the victory.

Cody Gakpo - N/A: Had little time to make any real impact on the proceedings.

Manager

A. Slot - 8.0: He deserves a lot of credit for this win. His team was organized, disciplined, and ruthless when it mattered. He set them up perfectly to frustrate the home side and exploit their chances. A tactical masterclass on the road.

Olympique Marseille Player Ratings vs Liverpool

Here's a look at the Olympique Marseille Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Gerónimo Rulli - 4.5: A truly disastrous evening for the keeper. The own goal was a moment he will want to forget immediately, a shocking error that killed his team's spirit. With only one save made all game, it was a performance that cost his side dearly.

Defenders

Leonardo Balerdi - 6.5: The captain had more touches than anyone on his team, trying to build from the back. He made several important interceptions and was solid for large parts. However, leading a defense that conceded twice at home is never ideal.

Benjamin Pavard - 5.5: He really struggled. An error leading to a shot and a yellow card summed up his difficult night. He looked off the pace and was caught out of position a few times. Not his best game by any stretch.

Facundo Medina - 6.5: Incredibly secure in possession, with a 99% pass accuracy. He was one of Marseille's more reliable performers, winning his duels and making some clean tackles. A solid individual performance despite the team's loss.

Amir Murillo - 6.0: A very busy but somewhat chaotic performance. He won a good number of his ground duels and drew five fouls, but he was poor in the air. He worked hard but lacked composure at key moments.

Midfielders

Geoffrey Kondogbia - 6.5: A typical battling display from the midfielder before he was substituted. He broke up play effectively and tried to get his team on the front foot. Did his job without pulling up any trees.

Hamed Junior Traoré - 6.5: Showed some nice touches and worked hard for the team. He created one chance and was tidy in possession before being taken off as the manager looked for a way back into the game. A decent shift.

Timothy Weah - 6.5: One of Marseille's brighter sparks in attack. He was direct and had three shots, though only one tested the keeper. He was a bit wasteful in possession, but at least he tried to make something happen.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg - 7.5: From our viewpoint, he was Marseille's best player on the pitch. He was a warrior in midfield, making 9 ball recoveries and winning all three of his tackles. He also created two chances, showing his quality on the ball. A fantastic effort in a losing cause.

Forwards

Amine Gouiri - 6.0: Had a couple of efforts on goal but failed to make a significant impact. He was caught offside and really struggled to get the better of Liverpool's defense before his substitution. A disappointing evening for him.

Mason Greenwood - 7.0: Looked the most dangerous of Marseille's attackers. He forced a good save from Alisson and was always looking to create. The main issue was his final product, as he lost possession 19 times.

Substitutes

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - N/A: Came on for the final 20 minutes but was starved of service.

Igor Paixão - N/A: Had a headed chance that he sent over the bar not long after coming on.

Bilal Nadir - N/A: Introduced to add some energy but the game was already gone.

Manager

R. De Zerbi - 6.0: His team showed plenty of attacking intent and were not afraid to have a go. They created chances but were let down by poor finishing and a terrible goalkeeping error. He was let down by individual mistakes rather than his overall game plan.

Man of the Match

Dominik Szoboszlai was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Olympique Marseille's goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli was the worst performer in the Olympique Marseille vs Liverpool UCL clash.