Liverpool Predicted XI vs. Marseille: Mo Salah decision & rare centre-back swap
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Liverpool Predicted XI vs. Marseille: Salah Decision & Rare Centre-Back Swap
Liverpool face Olympique Marseille at the Stade Vélodrome in a crucial UEFA Champions League matchday 7 clash on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. With both teams sitting mid-table—Liverpool in fourth and Marseille in 16th—three points are vital for knockout stage hopes. Marseille boast strong home form, scoring 22 goals in their last five matches, while Liverpool seek consistency after a mixed week.[1][3][4][7]
Predicted Liverpool Lineup (4-2-3-1)
| Position | Player | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Alisson Becker | Injury-free, recent clean sheet vs. Arsenal.[1] |
| RB | Jeremie Frimpong / Joe Gomez | Frimpong starts due to Bradley injury; Gomez versatile.[1][2][5] |
| CB | Ibrahima Konaté & Virgil van Dijk | Rare swap: Konaté returns, partnering VVD amid defensive tweaks.[2][4][5][8] |
| LB | Milos Kerkez / Andrew Robertson | Kerkez building form; Robertson for rotation.[1][2] |
| CM | Ryan Gravenberch & Alexis Mac Allister | Gravenberch mainstay; Mac Allister rotates in.[1][2] |
| RW/AM/LW/ST | Mohamed Salah, Dominik Szoboszlai, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo, Hugo Ekitike | Salah decision: Back from AFCON, reconciled with Slot—likely starts on right.[1][3][5] |
Arne Slot faces key calls: reinstate Mo Salah post-AFCON despite recent bench fears, and opt for a rare centre-back swap with Konaté over Gomez for defensive solidity against Marseille's attack led by Mason Greenwood, Amine Gouiri, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Injuries sideline Conor Bradley, Stefan Bajcetic, and Alexander Isak for Liverpool; Benjamin Pavard out for hosts.[5][6][8]
Marseille (predicted 3-5-2): Rulli; Murillo, Aguerd/Balerdi, Emerson; Weah, Vermeeren, Højbjerg, O'Riley, Paixao; Greenwood, Aubameyang.[2][5][6] Predictions vary—Liverpool favored at -106 odds, but Marseille's form suggests a tight contest, possibly 2-1 or 3-2 to hosts.[2][3][7]
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