MARSEILLE, France (AP) — The Marseille defensive wall had no solid foundation and Dominik Szoboszlai's trick free kick gave Liverpool a lead it never gave up in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Szoboszlai went low when the Marseille defenders jumped high to open the scoring in Liverpool's 3-0 win.
The game was goalless entering stoppage time at the end of the first half when Liverpool was awarded a free kick for a foul 20 meters (yards) from the Marseille goal.
Four Marseille players stood in a defensive wall with no extra protection from a teammate lying stretched on the turf behind them, intended to block a low shot when they all jump.
That prone position is a relatively recent addition to soccer's defensive strategy and is commonly seen — just not this time at the Velodrome.
All four Marseille players leaped in unison, and Szoboszlai struck his shot low and true beneath them, beyond the dive of goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli.
Liverpool added on in the second half from Rulli's own goal, diverting Jeremie Frimpong's low pass into the goal mouth, and substitute Cody Gakpo's stoppage-time shot.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong, left, and Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrate after Marseille's goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli scored an own goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Marseille and Liverpool in Marseille, France, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)
Liverpool players celebrate after Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai scored his side's opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Marseille and Liverpool in Marseille, France, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Premier League teams are powering ahead in the Champions League with five of England's top flight clubs in position to advance to the round of 16.
Arsenal tops the standings and has already secured its place in the next round, while wins for Liverpool, Newcastle and Chelsea on Wednesday saw them move into the top eight automatic qualifying positions with one game of the league phase to go. Tottenham is fifth, with Manchester City the only English team in the playoff positions going into next week's matches.
Liverpool is fourth after a 3-0 win at Marseille. Newcastle beat PSV Eindhoven by the same score and Chelsea won 1-0 against Pafos.
Bayern Munich is second and joined Arsenal in advancing to the round of 16 with Harry Kane scoring twice in a 2-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise.
Barcelona is in ninth place after a 4-2 win at Slavia Prague and risks having to to go through the playoffs to advance.
But there is much to play for in the final round of league phase games with just three points separating third place Real Madrid and Juventus in 15th.
The top eight qualify directly to the round of 16. Teams placed from nine to 24 enter a two-legged playoff to advance.
Prepare for a dramatic final round of games before the knockouts.
While the remaining six automatic qualification spots are still up for grabs, just two points separate the last of the playoff places and Ajax, which is 32nd in the standings.
One standout game sees Italian champion Napoli host Chelsea. Napoli is 25th — one place below the playoffs.
Defending champion Paris Saint-Germain hosts Newcastle and dropped points for either team could see them fall into the playoffs.
Man City’s home game against Galatasaray also has much riding on it if the 2023 European champion is to avoid the danger of the playoffs.
Jose Mourinho needs a win at his former club Madrid to give Benfica any chance of making the playoffs.
Liverpool topped the league phase last year — only to be eliminated by PSG in the round of 16. Arne Slot's team has made harder work of it this time around, but victory in Marseille leaves the Premier League champion in a strong position going into its final game at home to Qarabag.
Dominik Szoboszlai's free kick put Liverpool ahead in the first half. A Geronimo Rulli own goal doubled the advantage and Cody Gakpo sealed the win that also saw Hugo Ekitike hit the bar and Mohamed Salah miss a golden chance.
Newcastle cruised past PSV at St James' Park, with Yoane Wissa, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes on the score sheet, while it took a Moises Caicedo header to see Chelsea break down a stubborn Pafos.
Kane scored goals number 35 and 36 in a remarkable season for the Bayern striker — but he was left to rue missing out on a fourth hat trick of the season when his second-half penalty struck the crossbar.
The England captain scored twice in the space of three minutes in the second half against Union Saint-Gilloise — first with a near-post header and then winning and converting from the penalty spot.
Fermin Lopez also scored twice as Barcelona fought back to beat Slavia Prague, with a stunning long-range effort the pick of his goals.
Prague led after 10 minutes through Vasil Kusej, but Lopez struck twice to give Barcelona the lead. A Robert Lewandowski own goal leveled the game before halftime.
Substitute Dan Olmo curled into the top corner to put Barcelona in front again and Lewandowski scored at the end to seal the 4-2 win.
United States international Weston McKennnie scored for the third time in the Champions League this season as Juventus beat Benfica 2-0.
Juve is 15th and guaranteed to at least make the playoffs.
Atalanta is 13th after losing 3-2 at home to Athletic Bilbao, which is 23rd.
Tiny Qarabag is making a big impression in the competition and picked up its third win in the league phase after Bahlul Mustafazade scored deep into stoppage time on to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 3-2.
The Azerbaijani team edged closer to securing a place in the playoffs with just one game remaining thanks to its late comeback, which also confirmed Frankfurt’s elimination.
Camilo Duran had put the home team ahead in the fourth minute, but Frankfurt responded through Can Uzun and Fares Chaibi. Duran leveled the game in the 80th before Mustafazade’s winner in the 94th.
A Marcos Llorente own goal denied Atletico Madrid victory as the Spanish team drew 1-1 at Galatasaray. Giuliano Simeone scored early for Atletico before Llorente’s own goal in the 20th.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Bayern's Harry Kane celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Bayern Munich and Union Saint-Gilloise, in Munich, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Newcastle's Anthony Gordon celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League soccer match between Newcastle and PSV in Newcastle, England, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)
Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez reacts during the Champions League soccer match between Chelsea and Pafos in London, England, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Barcelona's Dani Olmo, center, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's third goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Slavia Prague and Barcelona in Prague, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Liverpool's Jeremie Frimpong, left, and Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai celebrate after Marseille's goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli scored an own goal during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Marseille and Liverpool in Marseille, France, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Philippe Magoni)
Qarabag's Camilo Duran, right, holds the Player of the Match award after the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Qarabag and Eintracht Frankfurt in Baku, Azerbaijan, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo)
Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister leaves the pitch after the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Burnley in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal reacts during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Barcelona in San Sebastian, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Barcelona's Marcus Rashford in action during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Sociedad and Barcelona in San Sebastian, Spain, Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Miguel Oses)
Liverpool's manager Arne Slot enters to the pitch prior to the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Burnley in Liverpool, England, Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
