Marseille v Liverpool: Back Wirtz to shine in goal-fest | OneFootball

Marseille v LiverpoolWednesday 21 January, 20:00

De Zerbi-ball is thrilling, but can it yield trophies?

It's a case of nearly, but not quite at the moment for Marseille. They lost on penalties to PSG in the Trophee des Champions (the French Community Shield), and unlike Lens they have failed to make the most of PSG's wobbles in Ligue 1. Marseille did win 5-2 at Angers at the weekend, but they remain in third in the league, eight points off top spot.

But sometimes it's about the journey instead of the destination, and there's no doubt that Roberto De Zerbi's team play some of the most thrilling football in Ligue 1. They have scored four goals or more in eight different competitive matches this season, and they can hurt the opposition in lots of ways.

Mason Greenwood is Ligue 1's top scorer, veteran striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang still looks razor-sharp and Igor Paixao has been an excellent signing from Feyenoord. There is a core of experienced players too, like keeper Geronimo Rulli, defenders Nayef Aguerd, Emerson and Benjamin Pavard and midfield battler Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Marseille have been the picture of inconsistency in this competition, with three wins and three defeats. They beat Newcastle 2-1 and ran out 3-2 victors at Union Saint-Gilloise in their last two league-phase matches.

Aguerd has only just returned from losing the AFCON final with Morocco, so is unlikely to feature here. Aubameyang and Paixao are pushing for returns to the XI.

Xabi Alonso now casting shadow over Slot's season

With some Liverpool fans growing increasingly frustrated by the club's performances and results, the noise around Arne Slot's position as manager has grown louder, and Xabi Alonso's sudden availability (the Liverpool legend was recently sacked by Real Madrid) won't do the Dutchman any favours in that regard.

There's a strong argument to say that a title-winning coach who has had to steer his squad through a tragedy and an injury crisis deserves time and leeway, but although the club have given Slot staunch backing, he can't afford to lose match-going supporters.

Liverpool drew 1-1 with Burnley on Saturday at Anfield, which means that for the first time since the 1980s, the Reds have failed to win a home game against one of the three promoted sides. All three of those draws against Burnley, Leeds and Sunderland have come as part of the current 12-match unbeaten run.

The last defeat Liverpool suffered was the dismal 4-1 home reverse against PSV in the Champions League, and Slot has made clear trade-offs to make his team more stable and difficult to beat. In those 12 unbeaten games, Liverpool have conceded just 10 goals, but the caveat is that they have scored multiple goals in just seven of those matches.

This is not the heavy-metal football of Jürgen Klopp, this is a gentle jazz number in a hotel bar, and the key to winning some supporters back around could be Slot finding a way to inject more pace and intensity into his team's play without sacrificing stability. The Reds are in the top four and still in the Champions League and FA Cup, so all is not lost.

Conor Bradley is the latest Liverpool player to suffer a serious injury, and his knee problem will probably rule him out for the rest of the campaign. Alexander Isak and teenage defender Giovanni Leoni are also still on the sidelines. Mo Salah could return to action after ending his AFCON campaign with Egypt.

Don't back Liverpool, but do back Wirtz

2.04 to win this. Yes, they won at Inter, but that was courtesy of a controversial late penalty in what was a very tight game, and I'm not convinced Liverpool can withstand Marseille's attacking firepower.

I do think Marseille can score against this Liverpool side, and I can't ignore Greenwood's price of 2.8 to find the net. He has 15 goals across the Champions League and Ligue 1, he is OM's penalty taker, and has netted in four of his last five games.

Now read our other Champions League previews here!