Liverpool stormed into the Champions League top eight with a ruthless 3-0 dismantling of Marseille at a stunned Stade Velodrome on Wednesday night.

Dominik Szoboszlai’s wicked free-kick and Cody Gakpo’s late finish, sandwiched around a Geronimo Rulli own goal, sealed a dominant away win for Arne Slot’s side.

The victory rockets Liverpool from 11th to fourth in the standings, while Marseille slip to 19th and are left desperately clinging to a play-off lifeline ahead of the final round.

Mohamed Salah nearly marked his return with a goal in the first half, making his first Liverpool appearance since mid-December after AFCON duty, a comeback that followed his highly publicised spat with Slot.

Earlier drama saw Hugo Ekitike denied by VAR for offside, while Liverpool were also left frustrated after a penalty appeal was waved away despite the ball striking Geoffrey Kondogbia’s raised arm.

Liverpool finally broke through in stoppage time when Szoboszlai drilled a low free-kick straight through a poorly organised Marseille wall and beyond Rulli.

Szoboszlai then turned creator shortly before the hour, setting up Ekitike whose thunderous effort rattled the crossbar, triggering a Marseille counter that ended with Hamed Traore blazing over.

The Reds found breathing space 18 minutes from time as Jeremie Frimpong’s cross deflected cruelly off Rulli and into the net.

Salah squandered a golden chance on his return, but Gakpo showed no mercy in added time, calmly slotting home to cap a statement European performance.