A D for Liverpool who get what they deserve in Italy, while brave Napoli earn a B plus

Matt Jones - Editor 01:28 04/10/2018
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  • After the highs of their Paris Saint-Germain pasting on opening night, it was heartbreak for Liverpool as Champions League Group C was opened right up following Napoli’s dramatic late 1-0 triumph.

    It was nothing more than the home side deserved in Naples, Lorenzo Insigne getting on the end of Jose Callejon’s brilliant low cross in stoppage time to poke in the winner.

    Here is our report card from the Stadio San Paolo.

    30 SECOND-REPORT

    After bossing Paris Saint-Germain on opening night, Liverpool launched themselves into the ascendancy. But as terrific as they were at Anfield, they looked timid in Naples as their free-flowing attack was first stunted by an organised home defence and then outshone by the increasingly encouraged hosts.

    A lifeless first half was replaced by a far more engaging second 45 minutes – it would not have been hard to better it. Alisson was a colossus between the sticks for the visitors as he alertly kept out Arkadiusz Milik and Insigne. He was helpless however as Callejon’s devilish ball was tucked home by Insigne.

    As PSG purred earlier in their 6-1 ravaging of Red Star Belgrade, there was plenty here for Jurgen Klopp to ponder.

    A captain's goal: Lorenzo Insigne scored a deserved winner for Napoli.

    A captain’s goal: Lorenzo Insigne scored a deserved winner for Napoli.

    THE GOOD

    Virgil van Dijk – Much of the focus is usually on Liverpool’s vivacious attack and the destruction they cause. But while this game in Naples wasn’t much of an attacking spectacle, there was plenty to admire in the Reds’ rearguard solidity overall. Questions and eyebrows were raised when a princely £75 million sum was paid for Virgil van Dijk in January 2017. No questions remain now and the only eyebrows raised are at the suggestion that there is a finer centre-back in world football.

    Dries Mertens – Questions will be raised over the decision not to start him, but the diminutive Belgian answered his team’s call when he was summoned from the bench with his side having acquired the upper-hand. Already starting to get stretched, Liverpool were desperately clinging to their hard-earned point as Mertens marauded into the spaces rapidly being opened up in their back-line. He should have scored himself but just as the Reds thought they’d earned a reprieve, it was ripped away.

    THE BAD

    The first half – It’s safe to say a lot was expected from this encounter, but it failed to live up to the billing in the opening 45 minutes. The two sides are mirror images of each other in many ways, the impish attacking talents of Insigne, Mertens and Callejon going up against dynamic Liverpool trio Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

    It should have provided both sets of fans with plenty to look forward to, but neither side could quite find the spark to ignite the game initially.

    Liverpool’s three amigos – At first glance, a point away from home in the Champions League is not to be sniffed at, especially at opponents as illustrious as Napoli. But Klopp will unlikely have witnessed such a disjointed display from his stunning attacking trio during his tenure – his team failed to muster a single shot on target.

    Mohamed Salah’s woes continued as the home side’s regimented defence were stout in a Carlo Ancelotti masterclass – a manager leading his eighth club in the Champions League. Salah’s 65.2 per cent pass success was the worst of any outfield player bar late substitute Daniel Sturridge, while he and Sadio Mane were dispossessed a team high three times. Roberto Firmino was similarly anonymous.

    Naby Keita's early injury was a blow for the away side.

    Naby Keita’s early injury was a blow for the away side.

    TACTICAL TURNING POINT

    Dries lightning – As time ticked away, perhaps Ancelotti might have taken a pragmatic approach and settled for a point. But he sensed his side were getting on top as Liverpool looked increasingly more ragged, and introduced the livewire Belgian – it was odd he had not started – who tried to light the blue touch paper. He probed, prodded, chased and harried as the visitors desperately tried to cling on.

    VERDICTS

    NAPOLI: B+

    Always in control during a dull first half and then taking the initiative as the game belatedly opened up in the second, it looked for so long as if Napoli’s efforts would go unrewarded. They were made to wait but their stoppage time winner was nothing less than what they deserved, finished off by the industrious Insigne, who finished the night as captain.

    LIVERPOOL: D

    Setting up his team to be difficult to beat is not really a Klopp trait – even in big European away games such as this. If Napoli had been more clinical or possessed a little more stardust in attack, and didn’t have Alisson in the opposite goal, Liverpool would have been sunk much earlier. But the Reds will look ahead and they now have a double-header against group minnows Red Star.

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