"While all eyes were on the Egypt international it was his close friend -- and the team's most consistent performer -- who surprised the hosts with a clever free-kick under the wall in first-half added time. The set-piece probably favoured Salah's left foot but Szoboszlai took charge with a low shot which crept under the jump of Leonardo Balerdi and inside the post."
"Salah was making his first start since Nov. 26, when Liverpool were humiliated 4-1 at home to PSV Eindhoven, their final defeat of nine in 12 matches prior to the current 12-game unbeaten stretch. His subsequent omission from the team led to those explosive comments about being "thrown under the bus", suggesting his relationship with boss Arne Slot had broken down and his own immediate future was in doubt but the Africa Cup of Nations provided a natural break."
Liverpool secured a 3-0 victory in Marseille, with Dominik Szoboszlai's low free-kick in first-half added time opening the scoring. Jeremie Frimpong's second-half cross deflected in off goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli and Cody Gakpo added an injury-time goal to complete the win. Mohamed Salah returned to the starting lineup but had limited influence, missing a header and diverting a cross onto the roof of the net. A 4-2-2-2 formation deployed Salah alongside Hugo Ekitike, with Florian Wirtz and Szoboszlai operating as twin number 10s. Federico Chiesa's warm-up injury weakened the bench, and Salah's earlier omission had followed public criticism and an Africa Cup of Nations break.
Read at ESPN
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