Marseille's Stunning Attack Meets Chronic Inconsistency Ahead of Liverpool Clash
Olympique de Marseille delivered a breathtaking attacking masterclass on Saturday, dismantling Angers 5-2 in Ligue 1 with Igor Paixão among the goalscorers. This emphatic victory provided the clearest demonstration yet of manager Roberto De Zerbi's vision taking shape at the club, yet it simultaneously highlighted the maddening inconsistency that has defined their season. As Marseille prepare to host Liverpool in a crucial Champions League encounter on Wednesday, the fundamental question remains: which version of this talented but unpredictable side will actually turn up?
A First Half of Pure Brilliance
De Zerbi described the opening forty-five minutes against Angers as "the best first half since my arrival." His assessment was difficult to dispute. Marseille surged into a four-goal lead before the break, with four different players finding the net in a display of fluid, incisive football. This performance underscored the remarkable attacking potential De Zerbi has unlocked. With 41 goals in just 18 league matches this campaign, Marseille currently boast the most prolific attack in France's top flight.
Their form since the New Year has been particularly explosive, netting 16 goals across all competitions. This tally is matched only by European giants Bayern Munich across the continent's top five leagues, marking Marseille's most potent half-century attacking run in fifty years. The recent 9-0 demolition of sixth-tier Bayeux in the Coupe de France further emphasised their firepower.
The Other Side of the Coin: Jarring Inconsistency
For all this attacking fluency, a shadow of impermanence and unreliability looms large. De Zerbi himself pinpointed this paradox, challenging his players after the Angers win to "string together 10 matches at this standard." The plea for consistency is a familiar refrain. The opening month of 2025 perfectly encapsulated their erratic nature. It began with a dismal 2-0 defeat to Nantes, leaving them eight points adrift of league leaders Lens. Merely four days later, they produced a heroic performance against Paris Saint-Germain in the Trophée des Champions, only to lose on penalties after a dramatic 2-2 draw.
The emotional whiplash was so severe it reduced De Zerbi to tears. "I have never cried after a defeat, but tonight I cried," he confessed post-match, contrasting the passion shown against PSG with the "nothing" displayed against Nantes. The implication is stark: Marseille's primary issue is not reaching a high ceiling, but rather preventing catastrophic collapses to a worryingly low floor.
Structural Instability and Managerial Uncertainty
This inconsistency is not merely psychological; it is woven into the club's fabric. Since De Zerbi's arrival in June 2024, the squad has been in a state of perpetual churn, driven by financial necessity. The summer of 2025 alone saw over a dozen new arrivals and even more departures. While some signings have seamlessly integrated, others have struggled, and the club's policy of selling academy talents like Robinio Vaz for immediate funds undermines long-term planning.
This environment of constant flux was candidly addressed by director of football Medhi Benatia, who admitted, "At Marseille, it's hard to project yourself. I just look at tomorrow." De Zerbi has since tethered his own future to Benatia's, stating he would leave if the director departs, adding another layer of uncertainty. Persistent speculation linking De Zerbi with Manchester United, though dismissed by the coach, further fuels the instability.
The Liverpool Litmus Test
All these threads converge on Wednesday's Champions League showdown with Liverpool. De Zerbi recognises the monumental challenge, framing it as the ultimate test of his team's newfound coherence. "We have to be the team we were tonight in every match," he asserted. "We can play very well against Liverpool but, if we're not at it, we can lose against anyone. If we are well prepared, we can compete with everyone."
The match represents more than just a European tie; it is a referendum on whether De Zerbi's visible ideas and attacking philosophy can be insulated from the club's inherent volatility long enough to build something truly durable. For Liverpool, they face a Marseille side capable of sublime football and sudden self-destruction—a puzzle as tactical as it is psychological.
