Liverpool’s Szoboszlai scores with trick free kick under Marseille’s jumping defensive wall

By: The Associated Press Posted: 3:19 PM CST Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026 Last Modified: 4:57 PM CST Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026

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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.

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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.

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This article was published 21/01/2026 (257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

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.

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)

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.