Honestly, if you’d told a Liverpool fan back in August that they’d be heading into late January sitting 9th in the Champions League table, they probably would’ve laughed at you. But here we are. It’s 2026, the "league phase" is still confusing half the pub, and Arne Slot’s men are currently staring down a massive week that basically determines whether they get a week off in February or a stressful two-legged playoff.
The draw against Burnley at Anfield yesterday was... well, it was rough. Hearing boos at the final whistle isn’t exactly the "Anfield atmosphere" we’re used to. But the beauty of the modern LFC fixtures Champions League schedule is that there’s no time to sulk. In three days, the Reds are at the Orange Vélodrome.
The Marseille Hurdles: Matchday 7 is Massive
Let’s look at the immediate lfc fixtures champions league reality. Wednesday night. Marseille away.
If you’ve never seen a game at the Vélodrome, it's essentially a cauldron. Marseille currently sits 16th in the massive 36-team table, which means they are fighting for their lives to stay in those playoff spots. Liverpool, on the other hand, is 9th.
Why does 9th matter? Because only the top 8 go straight to the Round of 16.
Missing out on that top 8 means two extra games in an already bloated calendar. Virgil van Dijk was pretty blunt after the Burnley game: they got sloppy after 60 minutes. You can't do that in France. The Reds have 12 points from 6 games—a decent return, but that 4-1 collapse against PSV in November is still haunting the goal difference.
Remaining League Phase Games
- Olympique de Marseille vs Liverpool – Wednesday, Jan 21, 2026 (Orange Vélodrome)
- Liverpool vs Qarabağ FK – Wednesday, Jan 28, 2026 (Anfield)
The Qarabağ game on the final matchday should be a banker. But "should" is a dangerous word in football. If Liverpool doesn't take three points in Marseille, that final game becomes a high-pressure scramble rather than a chance to rotate the squad.
Mo Salah and the AFCON Factor
The biggest piece of news—and the one everyone is whispering about at the AXA Training Centre—is Mohamed Salah.
Egypt just got knocked out of AFCON by Nigeria in the third-place playoff. Salah actually missed a penalty in that shootout, which is rare for him. While it’s gutting for him personally, it’s a massive boost for Slot.
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Salah won't make the Marseille game. He's expected back on Merseyside later this week. But having him available for the Qarabağ finale and the inevitable knockout rounds? That changes the ceiling for this team. Florian Wirtz has been doing a shift, and he scored a beauty against Burnley, but he isn't Mo.
Then there’s the injury list. It's a bit of a mess.
- Alexander Isak: Out until late March (fibula fracture).
- Conor Bradley & Giovanni Leoni: Both out for the season.
- Rio Ngumoha: Just cramp, thankfully. He should be on the plane to France.
What the 2025/26 Standings Actually Mean
Right now, Arsenal is top of the pile with a perfect 18 points. Bayern and PSG are right behind them. Liverpool is currently the highest-ranked team outside the automatic qualification spots.
If the season ended today, Liverpool would be seeded for the knockout playoffs. They'd likely face a team like Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, or Monaco. Nobody wants that. It’s basically a Champions League quarter-final-level game just to get into the actual Round of 16.
The goal is simple: win the next two games. If Liverpool gets to 18 points, they almost certainly jump into the top 8. Inter and Real Madrid are only ahead on goal difference or a single point, and they have some nasty fixtures coming up.
Tactical Shifts Under Arne Slot
It’s been interesting watching Slot handle the European nights compared to Klopp. It’s less "heavy metal" and a bit more controlled—sort of. The 5-1 demolition of Frankfurt was a tactical masterclass in transition. But then you see the 1-0 loss to Galatasaray where they just couldn't break down a low block.
The Marseille game will test their nerve. Marseille plays a high-energy, aggressive style under the lights. Without Isak up top, the Reds have looked a little toothless in the final third. We’re seeing a lot of possession (roughly 55% on average in the UCL this year) but not enough clinical finishing.
Van Dijk mentioned the team becoming "sloppy" after an hour. That’s a fitness or concentration issue. In the Champions League, that's where you get punished. Just look at the PSV game; the wheels fell off in the second half.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you're tracking the LFC fixtures Champions League progress, keep an eye on these specific metrics over the next two matchdays:
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- Goal Difference Watch: Liverpool is currently at +3. Real Madrid is at +6. If the Reds want that 8th spot, they don't just need to win; they need to put a couple past Qarabağ on the 28th.
- The Yellow Card Situation: Several key players are hovering near a suspension. With the new format, these cards carry over, and losing a starter for the first knockout leg would be a disaster.
- Salah’s Integration: Watch the lineup for the Qarabağ game. Slot might be tempted to bench him to keep him fresh for the Premier League title race, but if 8th place is on the line, he has to play.
The road to Budapest (where the final is held this year) is a lot windier than it used to be. The next 10 days will tell us if Liverpool is a genuine contender or just another team making up the numbers in the playoff scrap.
Get the travel sorted for Marseille if you're going—it’s going to be loud. If you're staying home, clear your Wednesday nights. The margin for error is officially zero.