Liverpool can be Arsenal’s Champions League kryptonite as stat shows under-pressure Reds are having silent revival

Liverpool have been named as Arsenal’s main rivals for the Champions League following a dominant 3-0 win over Marseille.

The Reds stretched their unbeaten run to 13 matches across all competitions – the longest active run in Europe’s top five leagues.

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On a night where Mohamed Salah returned to the starting XI following his Africa Cup of Nations exploits, Liverpool romped to three points.

An ingenious free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai gave the visitors the lead in France after Hugo Ekitike had a goal ruled out for offside.

Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli then inadvertently turned Jeremie Frimpong‘s low cross into his own net to double the lead.

Cody Gakpo later added a third in the second minute of stoppage-time as Liverpool moved up to fourth in the league phase standings.

Arne Slot’s side remain six points adrift of Arsenal, who are the only team to boast a perfect European record with just one game left.

The Gunners also look destined to wrestle the Premier League crown from Merseyside, having moved seven clear at the summit.

However, former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant believes his old team could still be the favourites in a two-legged tie.

Despite the Reds’ domestic struggles, Slot’s men are unbeaten with four points out of six from their two league meetings with Arsenal.

Speaking on the Sports Bar, Pennant said: “Liverpool are better favoured in the Champions League.

“They’ve got the pedigree, they’ve got the know-how. And I think they will do a lot better this season in the Champions League than they would do in the Premier League.

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When asked by Jamie O’Hara if Liverpool have a better chance of beating Arsenal in the Champions League, Pennant responded: “I genuinely do [believe that].

“Because Liverpool are six-time Champions League winners.

“They’ve got the pedigree, they know what it is to get there, to win it. And over a two-legged game, I think Liverpool would beat Arsenal… I would say more chance. More chance of winning it than Arsenal.”

“Over a two-legged game, I think Liverpool go to Emirates Stadium, stink it out, come back to Anfield.

“If they can get Anfield rocking on a Champions League night, it’s a horrible place to go.

“And we’ve seen what Arsenal do, when they go to Anfield, there’s something about Arsenal.”

The Gunners last won at Anfield in September 2012, when current manager Mikel Arteta was still at the club as a player.

Arsenal also have unhappy memories from their only Champions League meeting against Liverpool, which came in 2007/08.

The two teams played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their quarter-final showdown, before Liverpool won 4-2 in the reverse fixture at Anfield.

Pennant continued: “Liverpool won every game in [the league phase] bar one last season, and they were top of the league, and then they played PSG, who were 22nd, and then went on to win it.

“Coming top in the Champions League right now at this stage means nothing.

“It’s when you can face-to-face over a two-legged period, that’s when it all counts.”