Liverpool will host Napoli in the UEFA Champions League, hoping to bounce back from their disappointing defeat against Leeds United at the weekend.
After picking up wins over West Ham United and Manchester City earlier this month, Liverpool were expected to turn a corner and put together a winning run. Instead, they have now lost back-to-back league games against Nottingham Forest and Leeds.
The fans will be expecting a strong reaction from the players here, and Jurgen Klopp will want his team to step up and get the job done. Liverpool were humiliated by Napoli earlier on in the season, and the Reds be looking to avenge their defeat at Anfield this week.
Meanwhile, Napoli are in exceptional form right now, and they are on a brilliant winning run. The Partenopei will be hoping to continue their form and grind out a valuable win at Anfield this week. The Italian giants are on top of the Group A table and will want to progress as the group winners.
Meanwhile, Liverpool will be aware that finishing second in the group could result in a tough fixture in the knockout rounds. And this is a golden opportunity for them to beat Napoli and win their group. It will be interesting to see if their players can grind out a winning performance here.
Team News & Tactics
Liverpool
Next up, the visit of @sscnapoli in the @ChampionsLeague 🔴 pic.twitter.com/7pajXKho7V
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 31, 2022
Liverpool continue to be without the likes of Arthur Melo, Joel Matip, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota. All four of them are long-term absentees with injuries. Meanwhile, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have returned to training. But they are not included in Liverpool’s Champions League squad, leaving Jurgen Klopp frustrated.
The Reds are expected to persist with a 4-4-2 formation, with Alisson Becker taking his place in the goal. The Brazilian international has been the only consistent player for Liverpool this season.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to start as the right back, and Liverpool will need his creativity against Napoli. At the heart of the Liverpool defence, Ibrahima Konate could return after some poor performances from Joe Gomez of late.
Virgil van Dijk is expected to retain his place as a centre-back. Andrew Robertson has been outstanding in his recent outings and is expected to start here ahead of Kostas Tsimikas.
In the midfield, Thiago Alcântara should partner Fabinho. The Spanish international will look to break the lines and create chances for his teammates with long-range passes, while Fabinho will look to disrupt the Napoli play and set up counterattacks for his side.
In the wide areas, Harvey Elliott will be looking to make his mark after a disappointing performance against Leeds. The teenage prodigy will aim to add width and creativity from the flanks. Fabio Carvalho will be deployed in a similar role on the left-hand side of the midfield.
Mohamed Salah scored against Leeds and is expected to leave the line once again. Darwin Nunez will partner the Egyptian international. Roberto Firmino will thus be an option on the bench for Liverpool.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Fabinho, Thiago, Carvalho; Salah, Nunez
Napoli
Napoli will be without the services of Amir Rrahmani and Salvatore Sirigu. The Italian outfit dismantled Liverpool with a 4-3-3 set-up in the previous meeting, and they will look to do the same here.
Alex Meret will start in goal for the away side. Giovanni Di Lorenzo is expected to be deployed as the right-back, with Leo Ostigard and Kim Min-jae featuring as the centre-backs. The duo will have to be at the top of their game to deny Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez.
Mathias Olivera will be deployed as the left-back. The full-backs will look to create an overload on Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson going forward. Napoli will be aware that the Liverpool full-backs can be vulnerable defensively, and they will look to make the most of that.
In the midfield, Piotr Zielinski will partner Stanislav Lobotka and Tanguy Ndombele. The Polish international will look to add creativity, while Lobotka and Ndombele will chip in defensively and recycle the ball.
As for the offensive unit, Matteo Politano and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a target for Liverpool, are expected to be deployed in wide positions. The Georgian attacker was excellent against Liverpool in the previous meeting and can hurt their defence once again here. Victor Osimhen is expected to lead the line for Napoli.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Kim, Olivera; Ndombele, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Key Stats
- Liverpool have scored at least two goals in 15 of their last 18 matches in the UEFA Champions League.
- Napoli have scored at least three goals in their last five Champions League matches.
- Napoli have won their last five matches in the UEFA Champions League.
- Liverpool have won their last four Champions League games.
- Napoli have been winning at both half-time and full-time in their last three matches in the Champions League.
Player to Watch
Mohamed Salah
Goal number 11 for Mohamed Salah this season 🇪🇬👑 pic.twitter.com/P69zkxBNfS
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) October 29, 2022
The Egyptian has been Liverpool’s best attacker this season and has managed to get on the score sheet in recent outings. Salah is currently Liverpool’s top scorer in the UEFA Champions League, and he will look to add to his tally here.
He has been formidable in the European games at Anfield since joining the Merseyside club, and he has a history of scoring against Napoli as well. It will be interesting to see if Salah can inspire a Liverpool turnaround against Napoli.
Prediction
Liverpool 1-2 Napoli
Liverpool are currently lacking in form and confidence right now. They are bereft of ideas going forward and defensively vulnerable. On the other hand, Napoli have the momentum with them and they have to quality to hurt Liverpool defensively. The away side should be able to edge another win here. The Hard Tackle predicts Luciano Spalletti’s men to clinch a 2-1 victory.
