Match reportLiverpool score three in Champions League victory at Marseille

Arne Slot's side secured three points in France as a clever Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick in first half stoppage time set them on their way.

An own goal via goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli in the latter stages added to the scoreline, ahead of substitute Cody Gakpo ensuring the Reds of the spoils in added time in what was a battling performance.

Team news

Mohamed Salah started the encounter after returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty with Egypt.

Elsewhere, Joe Gomez came in for Ibrahima Konate, while Alexis Mac Allister was also selected in midfield.

Liverpool: Alisson, Gomez, Van Dijk, Kerkez, Wirtz (Jones, 79), Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Ekitike (Gakpo, 79), Frimpong, Gravenberch.

Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Endo, Gakpo, Robertson, Nyoni, Ngumoha.

First half

The two sides exchanged early attacks with Liverpool going closest first from a Salah corner that was greeted by a towering Gomez header.

However, the defender was unable to work his opening on target, seeing the ball flash past the wrong side of the post.

Benjamin Pavard then attempted to get on the end of a Hamed Traore ball into the box at the other end, though Alisson was alert to the danger to sweep up his advances.

Liverpool continued to dominate much of possession and ahead of the 20-minute mark, Alexis Mac Allister struck a low driven shot inches wide after working himself into the area with a clever dribble.

Hugo Ekitike also had the ball in the back of the net as pressure continued to mount, but VAR was on hand to rule out the effort and cut celebrations short.

The Reds had worked a slick move through Salah and Szoboszlai down the right flank, leaving the striker to dart across his man in the box and slide home a low cross.

Replays, though, showed he had moved too early in his efforts to net and the score remained level.

In response, Alisson was forced into his first save of the evening, Amine Gouiri drilling a vicious shot at goal after a dead ball was thrown into the box, resulting in strong hands to push the chance clear.

Liverpool, though, continued to dominate and got the lead they deserved in the first minute of stoppage time at the end of the half.

Salah had guided a Jeremie Frimpong cross over the bar in another warning shot just minutes earlier, but it was Szoboszlai who opened the scoring thanks to a slick free kick.

The midfielder stepped up from 20 yards to slide an effort underneath the jumping wall, with the Reds unable to be denied their opener at the second attempt.

Second half

To begin the action after the interval, Florian Wirtz and Ekitike combined around the box to work a chance for the former, who saw his shot blocked.

Mason Greenwood then threatened from distance with a dipping effort that bounced just in front of Alisson, before Ekitike thundered a shot onto the post.

The forward sprinted into the box and swept a first-time effort at goal from a Szoboszlai pass, though saw his opening cannon back off the woodwork.

Almost instantly, Marseille broke on a counter and opened up their best chance of the evening.

Greenwood was again involved, bursting down the right to cross for the advancing Traore, but the attacker could only shoot over the bar with only Alisson left to beat.

Wirtz also saw a low shot saved by goalkeeper Rulli, while Ekitike was proving dangerous, as he fizzed another chance over the bar from inside the area.

Timothy Weah had a good chance blocked away by Virgil van Dijk, ahead of Liverpool doubling their advantage with 18 minutes remaining.

Brilliant work from Frimpong on the right side saw him advance past his defender and into the area, before crossing a low ball through the six-yard box that was turned home by home stopper Rulli via his own heel.

Substitute Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang went closest for the hosts in added time at the end of the contest, shaping a shot at goal from the left side, though Alisson was again equal to it and pushed the chance clear.

And, in what was to be the last action of the game, substitute Gakpo added a third strike in clinical fashion in the 93rd minute, opening up his body in the area to net low into the bottom corner after Ryan Gravenberch's pass.