While a daunting trip to a capacity Velodrome now awaits the Reds in less than a fortnight, 22-year-old Kirkland still believes Liverpool's European adventure has many air-miles left.
Kirkland said: "It's set up nicely for the return. We've got to go there, create chances and score. We have to score if we want to stay in the competition, it's as simple as that, and I think we are more than capable of doing so.
"We created a good few chances last night and Fabien made some good saves near the end. It was tough. They made it hard and put a lot of players behind the ball. They were hard to break down. But we've got to take the positives from last night into the second leg.
"We never underestimate any team we play and we knew what to expect from Marseille. Didier Drogba was lively, I thought he was a good player and they got other good players right throughout their team.
"I wouldn't say they are now the favourites though. The way we've played away from home in Europe this season proves we can score goals. It's still very much hanging in the balance. It's going to be a tough game though because they are good side. Every team left in the competition now is a good side but we'll prepare right and give it our best shot out there.
"It's going to be a great atmosphere. It's a tough place to go but all the lads are up for it and hopefully there'll be quite a few of our fans out there to cheer us on. I imagine they will come out and play on their home ground, but you never know, maybe they will settle for a clean sheet to take them through. We can't afford to worry about what they are going to do. We're going out there with a job to do and hopefully we can do it."