- Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk says the 3–0 win over Marseille was tougher than it appeared
- Goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo sealed the Champions League victory
- Mohamed Salah returned to the starting lineup days after Egypt’s AFCON campaign ended
Liverpool FC captain Virgil van Dijk has described the club’s 3–0 victory over Olympique Marseille in France during the UEFA Champions League group stage as anything but straightforward.
Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, van Dijk said the scoreline did not reflect the difficulty of the contest. Liverpool sealed the win through goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo.
The match also marked the return of Egyptian winger Mohamed Salah to the starting line-up, just days after the conclusion of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where Egypt finished fourth. Salah endured a disappointing tournament finale, missing his spot-kick in the penalty shootout.
The victory was a significant boost for the Reds, who had recently struggled with a series of draws. Reflecting on the result during his post-match press conference, van Dijk emphasised the need for focus and consistency.
“We always say this after a win or a good result — now it’s all about recovery. Then we move on to Bournemouth, who are a tough side. We have to be fully prepared,” he said.
