Reds return to winning ways as Salah back in starting lineup

MARSEILLE, France — With Mohamed Salah restored to the Liverpool starting lineup, Arne Slot's team won with ease again in the Champions League, 3-0 at Marseille on Wednesday.

It was a return to something like business as usual for the English champion in a strangely up-and-down season amid turmoil with its Egyptian superstar, who was key to its 2019 European title.

Liverpool extended its unbeaten run to 13 in the first game that Salah started in that time, and at the first opportunity after he returned from the Africa Cup of Nations.

Salah looked a little out of rhythm with teammates, did not score and missed horribly wide with a clear shooting chance in the 83rd minute.

Still, Liverpool was already in control from Dominik Szoboszlai's clever free kick in first-half stoppage time and Jeremie Frimpong forcing an own goal by Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli in the 72nd from a pass aimed for Salah in the goalmouth. Cody Gakpo added a third in stoppage time.

Salah had a turbulent month at Liverpool — before going to AFCON in Morocco — that led many fans to wonder if the 33-year-old's stellar nine-season stay at Anfield was over.

Slot had hinted Tuesday he would put Salah straight back into the team, suggesting "let's see the lineup tomorrow if you still think there's an issue".

Clearly there had been an issue after Slot dropped Salah following a 4-1 home loss against PSV Eindhoven on Nov 26 that capped a surprising series of losses.

Salah had said in December he felt "thrown under the bus" and was being made a scapegoat — a post-game outburst at Leeds after spending the entirety of the 3-3 draw on the bench.

Slot was left no choice but to leave Salah at home when Liverpool went to Inter Milan on Dec 9 for a tricky game that was won 1-0 with a late penalty from Szoboszlai.

Liverpool has often failed to impress during its unbeaten run, including four straight draws in the Premier League while Salah was with Egypt. He was involved at AFCON until the weekend when Egypt lost a third-place game to Nigeria in a penalty shootout.

Salah is now back on the right side of Liverpool's attack with little speculation he might leave. There are 11 days left before the transfer window closes in the Saudi Arabian league, which had seemed the most likely destination.

"We always keep saying it after a win or a good result," captain Virgil van Dijk told TNT Sports of Liverpool's attempts to build momentum in a difficult season so far for the Premier League winner.

"Fully focus on recovery now and then we go to Bournemouth (on Saturday) and they're hard to beat. We have to be more than ready. We fly back tomorrow. On to the next."

Arne Slot's men climbed to fourth in the 36-team table and will secure a top-eight finish with a win over Azerbaijani club Qarabag at Anfield next week.

"People can see what a squad we have," said Slot when asked about avoiding the two-legged knockout play-off round.

"We have three players out with injuries and we already don't have the size of squad that our competitors have, so it's important we don't play these games."