The Dutch manager, whose side produced one of their most convincing performances of a challenging season, did not hold back when reflecting on a missed opportunity that could have put the game beyond doubt earlier.
The match saw Liverpool take control from the outset against Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille, who—despite their passionate home support—struggled to impose themselves. Dominik Szoboszlai opened the scoring with a clever free-kick before halftime, curling a low effort into the bottom corner after studying Marseille’s defensive wall setup. An own goal from Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli extended the lead in the second half, with a deflection off the Argentine’s attempted clearance looping in after pressure from Liverpool’s attack. Substitute Cody Gakpo sealed the rout late on with a composed finish, capitalising on a swift counter.
Mohamed Salah, making his return from Africa Cup of Nations duty, started and played the full 90 minutes. Slot praised the Egyptian’s professionalism and fitness, noting he was “so close to a goal” in one late chance that “would usually be a goal from him.” However, the manager’s sharpest comments targeted a separate incident involving hesitation from a forward—widely reported as Salah himself in post-match analysis—when presented with a clear shooting opportunity amid Liverpool’s need to kill the game off.
Slot questioned the decision-making in the moment, asking why a striker would opt to hesitate or delay rather than pull the trigger immediately. With the team pushing for a more comfortable margin in a high-stakes league phase fixture, the boss highlighted how such reluctance can prove costly, especially against quality opposition capable of mounting comebacks. He stressed the importance of clinical finishing in transition, admitting Liverpool “should have done better in the counter-attack” overall, even as they generated control on the ball and limited Marseille’s threats.
The win was a timely response to recent frustrations, including a 1-1 home draw against Burnley that drew boos from fans and intensified scrutiny on Slot’s methods. Post-match, the manager noted a shift in perspective: “A big difference tonight was they missed their big chances—usually this season that ball goes in and we’re all complaining. The performance was the same but the perspective is now different.” He praised his side’s tactical discipline, particularly against a Marseille team managed by “one of the best managers in the world,” while acknowledging fewer clear chances than in the Burnley game but far better execution.
Salah’s involvement drew particular attention after prior tensions, including his benching in an earlier fixture and public comments about feeling unsupported. Slot reiterated his happiness at having the forward back, emphasising contributions beyond goals, such as pressing and link-up play. Other standouts included Milos Kerkez, lauded by fans for a strong showing, and Virgil van Dijk’s leadership at the back.
The result boosted Liverpool’s push for a top-eight finish in the expanded Champions League format, potentially securing automatic progression to the round of 16 and avoiding playoffs. It moved them closer to qualification while denting Marseille’s hopes, with De Zerbi admitting his side “played poorly” and lost possession too easily under pressure.
Slot’s candid critique of the hesitation underscored his demand for ruthlessness in key moments—a recurring theme in his tenure amid a campaign of inconsistency against low blocks and set-piece vulnerabilities. Fans and pundits welcomed the steel shown in France, viewing it as evidence of Slot’s ability to deliver when pressure mounts. With tougher tests ahead, including domestic fixtures and remaining European ties, the manager’s no-nonsense approach aims to sharpen Liverpool’s edge in front of goal.
The victory provided much-needed positivity after a period of fan discontent, proving Slot’s system can yield results when players execute decisively. As the boss put it, creating chances is positive, but results define success—and this time, Liverpool delivered emphatically. (Word count: 712)
