Liverpool Must Not Underestimate Marseille, Warns Hojbjerg Ahead Of Champions League Clash

Liverpool enter the trip to Marseille knowing any lapse in focus could damage their Champions League ambitions, with the visitors chasing automatic passage to the round of 16 and Marseille eager to exploit

any distraction caused by Liverpool’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Bournemouth on Saturday.

Arne Slot’s side are currently just outside the top eight in the 36-team league phase, separated from an automatic last-16 position only by goals scored, and face two remaining games that will decide their fate, away to Marseille at the Stade Velodrome and then at home to Qarabag.

Marseille appear the tougher assignment in that run-in, especially as Roberto De Zerbi’s team have climbed into a Champions League play-off spot, sitting 16th in the standings, three points behind Liverpool, meaning victory on Wednesday would move Marseille above Liverpool and further tighten the race for qualification.

Slot’s group-stage campaign last season showed both promise and frustration, as Liverpool finished top of the expanded league table yet still exited in the round of 16 after drawing eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain, a reminder that seeding offers no guarantee once the knockout rounds begin.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who previously represented Tottenham and Southampton in the Premier League, believes any suggestion that Liverpool might prioritise domestic duties over this European assignment would hand Marseille a clear psychological advantage, and expects the hosts to punish even slight complacency from the visitors in front of their own crowd.

Hojbjerg underlined that view by telling reporters: "When you play in England, people often say it's the best league in the world, the Denmark midfielder told reporters on Tuesday. If Liverpool think this weekend's game is more important than tomorrow's, that's their problem. For us, this is very important, just like the one against Angers this weekend. Tomorrow, we can say that football will be celebrated. We will see two extraordinary clubs with passion and history, in an extraordinary setting. Everyone will come with a smile. I hope that everyone wearing the Marseille jersey and with Marseille blood will leave with a smile. "

𝗣𝗶𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲-𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗛𝗷𝗯𝗷𝗲𝗿𝗴 ahead of #OMLFC : Liverpool are a strong team, they are champions of England, so well need to be at the very highest level mentally and physically. I have confidence in us - were playing at the Orange Vlodrome for OM and well pic.twitter.com/oIn4R07D3mOlympique de Marseille (@OM_English) January 20, 2026

Liverpool Marseille Champions League records and history

Marseille’s recent Champions League momentum further heightens interest in this clash, as the French side have won their last two matches in the competition, their best sequence since a four-game winning run between October and December 2010, suggesting a team rediscovering confidence on the continental stage.

The meeting with Liverpool arrives after Marseille finally ended a 12-game winless stretch against English clubs, beating Newcastle United 2-1 in November after a sequence of three draws and nine defeats, and they now target a rare European campaign featuring wins over two different Premier League opponents.

The last season in which Marseille defeated two separate English sides in one European competition was 2003-04, when Newcastle and Liverpool both lost to the French club in the UEFA Cup, and that historical reference provides extra narrative weight as Liverpool return to the Stade Velodrome in another crucial contest.

Team	Competition phase	Current position	Points behind Liverpool
Liverpool	Champions League league phase	Outside top eight	–
Marseille	Champions League league phase	16th, play-off spot	3

Liverpool Marseille Champions League mindset and preparation

De Zerbi stressed that Marseille’s development depends on treating every opponent with equal focus, not just high-profile visitors, saying: "The football preparation is more difficult when you face Liverpool, unlike the mental preparation. That's the progress we need to make. We have to think that all matches must be prepared for in the same way, because our history proves that we can win against anyone. This match can change the Champions League season, but I don't think you should focus on the result to change a season. The most important thing is how you play the match. Even a defeat, like in the Trophee des Champions [against PSG on penalties], can give us a boost. "

While European attention centres on Marseille, Liverpool must also factor in domestic pressure, as the club still chase qualification for the 2026-27 Champions League through league position, with the forthcoming visit to Bournemouth adding another layer to an already demanding schedule for Slot and the squad.

Both clubs therefore approach the Stade Velodrome fixture with high stakes yet contrasting priorities, as Liverpool look to secure a direct last-16 berth and avoid the play-offs, while Marseille aim to extend their European revival, climb above Liverpool in the table and reinforce belief that recent positive results against English opposition are sustainable.