Liverpool travels to Italy to face a familiar foe in Napoli. This will be the third time in the last five seasons these two sides will face each other in the Champions League group stage. The Reds will be looking to regain that winning feeling when they take the field in Naples after dropping points in a dour Merseyside Derby that finished 0-0.
It won’t be a walk in the park. The Italian side has a good recent record against Jurgen Klopp’s side, defeating them in their last two home clashes.
Outside of those two losses, Liverpool’s record has been good in Italy. They have won their last three fixtures in the Land of Love more than they had in their previous 13 fixtures.
Last season in the Champions League Liverpool created history by winning all six of their group stage games. The first time any English side has achieved this in competition history.
Liverpool at Napoli Champions League Group Stage FYIs
Kick Off: Wednesday, September 7 at 8 pm, Stadio Diego Armando Maradona
Competition: Group A, Match Day 1 of 6
Watch Info: Click on the banners in this post. Streaming is available via Paramount+
Google Result Probability: Napoli 27% Liverpool 48% Draw 25%
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Team News
Two players that certainly won’t feature are Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. There was some mild surprise when Liverpool’s finalized Champions League squad was released that neither of these players made the cut.With both of their contracts expiring at the end of the season, you’d have to imagine that they have no future at the club.
Elsewhere there are players still missing from the squad, but the injury crisis is clearing up. Let’s look at the latest comments from Jurgen Klopp regarding the top tier players he is still missing.
Fabio Carvalho
“It’s not bad. I think it is extremely painful, it is a dead leg on the muscle above the knee, and he couldn’t bend the knee anymore. We have to see how quickly that will settle.”
Jordan Henderson
“We are still waiting for the result [of his MRI scan]. He is definitely out, he is injured, but the extent I don’t know.”
Thiago Alcantara
“Thiago is the closest of all [of them]. I think at the start of next week, he will be in team training.”
Ibrahima Konate
“In and around the international break, he will be back in training.”
Starting XI Prediction
Alisson starts with the gloves on. He will be pumped up for this game, coming off of a clean sheet against Everton. Joel Matip returns to the starting XI to partner Virgil van Dijk in front of the Brazilian. Trent Alexander Arnold and Andy Robertson start at full-back.
Fabinho starts at defensive midfield with Harvey Elliot and Arthur Melo playing ahead of him. It’ll be interesting to see how Arthur gels with his new teammates.
In attack I have Darwin Nunez dropping back to the bench and Roberto Firmino starting. Diogo Jota starts on the left giving Luis Diaz a much-needed rest, with Mohamed Salah starting on the right of the attack.
Stuey’s Two Cents
Liverpool has been difficult to track this season. There is no pattern to their form and they seem a little undercooked. I think Napoli is going to win here. It’ll be close but the Italians edge this one.
Napoli 2-1
Stuart Kavanagh is a journalist currently residing in Broken Hill, Australia. He writes for the Barrier Truth newspaper, along with being the owner of the sports and entertainment website thepyrrhic.com, He also co-hosts the ‘After Extra Time’ podcast and contributes at edgeofthecrowd.com when time permits.
Football mad, he is always down for debate and discussion at @stueyissickofit on Twitter.