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Liverpool secured their qualification to the UEFA Champions League knock-out stage courtesy a tense 1-0 victory over Napoli. Presented with the task of beating Napoli at home, Jurgen Klopp’s side came up trumps when it mattered most.
Like many a times before, Mohamed Salah proved to be the difference between the two sides with his goal in the 34th minute being his 9th Champions League goal at Anfield.
Napoli pushed for an equaliser late on but weren’t able to unlock a stubborn Liverpool defence. With PSG’s victory, the Italian outfit were consigned to a place in the Europa League.
Here are the 5 talking points from the game:
#5 Napoli suffocated by Liverpool’s energy
Napoli arrived at Anfield on Tuesday night boasting of an unbeaten record in the group. Having drawn away to PSG, many believed Napoli to ruffle the Reds’ feathers in the crunch encounter. However, the Italian outfit failed to find any rhythm to their game and much of it was down to Liverpool’s energy.
Klopp’s charges adopted a high-energy, high-pressing approach to not allow the Napoli defenders a moment’s peace. Moreover, the Reds’ midfield trio of Henderson, Milner and Wijnaldum ensured that the likes of Allan and Hamsik didn’t get the time or the space to pick defence-splitting passes.
On numerous occasions, Napoli tried to play out from the back and through Liverpool’s press but they failed miserably. The Italian outfit were guilty of digging their own grave on several occasions and the margin of defeat could’ve been much greater if not for Liverpool’s profligacy in front of goal.
Napoli’s entire gameplay is based on quick passing and movement off the ball. However, the Reds, courtesy their relentless energy, ensured that the away side couldn’t get a foothold in the game and get their passing game going.
The Reds emerged victorious on the night and their ability to press their opponents into submission played as pivotal a role as any. Thus, the Liverpool team needs to be given credit for being brave enough to pull off such a tactic in a do-or-die game.
#4 Kalidou Koulibaly proves his worth
The giant Senegalese defender had a tough task on his hands trying to contain Liverpool’s dangerous attacking trio. Yet, Koulibaly came through with flying colours and reminded the whole world why he is so sought-after.
The centre-back looked a class apart on the field and was present to clear the danger on numerous occasions. Koulibaly made 7 clearances throughout the game, thus highlighting his ability to snuff out threats quickly. Boasting of a rare combination of pace and power, the Senegalese hardly put a foot wrong.
Koulibaly also kept the mercurial Salah quiet for long periods of the game and was a colossus at the back for Napoli.
For quite a few years, the Senegalese has been touted as one of the most complete defenders on the planet and with today’s performance, one could hardly argue. He recently penned down a long-term contract but one can’t see him staying at Napoli past the summer of 2019.
A host of clubs would be in for his signature and on Tuesday night, with the eyes of the whole world trained on him, he showed exactly why he is on the top of so many clubs’ wish-list.
#3 Liverpool’s full-backs have a field day
A lot of Liverpool’s success in the Champions League last season was based on their ability to win the battle on the flanks and bombard the opposition with attacks. On Tuesday night, it again came to the fore with Robertson and Alexander-Arnold giving the Napoli back-line a tough time.
On many an occasion, Liverpool overloaded one side of the pitch and quickly switched their play to the other side, thus exploiting the space Napoli’s wingers left behind. To compound the Italian side’s misery, their wingers Insigne and Callejon never really tracked back.
With the Napoli wingers failing to help out, the full-backs created a numerical advantage more often than not. The Reds’ full-backs played high up the pitch and provided the required width to slice open Napoli’s defence.
Robertson and Alexander-Arnold have come by leaps and bounds since last season and are vital to Liverpool’s offensive play these days. While they were always willing runners, the duo has recently started showing off a better end-product.
Thus, with them in the mix, Liverpool’s famed front three can go about wreaking havoc inside the penalty area, rather than hogging the touchline.
Liverpool out-played Napoli in nearly every area of the pitch yet their supremacy on the flanks could just have been the factor that tilted the game in their favour once and for all.
#2 Liverpool’s big players stand up to be counted
Liverpool entered the game with their destiny in their own hands. Thus, the pressure was on Klopp’s men to deliver and prove that their last season heroics was not a flash in the pan. In times of such strife, teams look up to their big stars to make a difference. And boy, didn’t Liverpool’s big players stand up.
Salah was rampant throughout the game and caused the Napoli defence all sorts of problems. Mario Rui, in particular, endured a torrid time dealing with the Egyptian. Despite fluffing a gilt-edged opportunity, Salah quickly made amends when he ghosted past Koulibaly to fire home from an improbable angle. He was a constant menace and kept the away side’s defenders on their toes.
In defence, Van Dijk again turned in a commanding display. The Dutchman was booked early on for a dangerous challenge on Mertens. However, he didn’t let the caution affect his game. Van Dijk was a calming influence and helped Liverpool keep the Napoli attackers at an arm’s length throughout. Moreover, he was extremely composed when bringing the ball out from the back.
While Salah and Van Dijk turned in virtuoso displays, the most important contribution could yet have come from their goalkeeper, Alisson.
The Brazilian was a spectator for the majority of the game but when his moment arrived, he was at his imperious best. Alisson went eyeball to eyeball with Milik in the dying stages of the game and produced a world-class save to keep Liverpool’s Champions League dreams alive.
The game against Napoli represented a potential banana skin for Liverpool but eventually, they came through. While the team performed superbly as a unit, the biggest stars at Anfield certainly stood up when the chips were down.
#1 Yet again, Liverpool live to see another day at Anfield
The proposition of facing a Napoli team in a must-win situation isn’t the easiest job in the world. After all, they were unbeaten in their previous five group-stage encounters and boasted of a tactically astute manager in Ancelotti. Yet, Liverpool did what they have done to so many teams on their home patch.
On the hallowed turf of Anfield, Klopp’s men produced a vintage display to ensure that the Kop would see knock-out football after the turn of the year.
Like several times before, Liverpool looked like a team possessed at Anfield and they delivered the goods when push came to shove.
However, there is something different about this Liverpool side. They aren’t playing to their full potential yet find themselves challenging for all the top honours. That is what champion sides do and Liverpool do look like genuine contenders for the Champions League.
Yet, one can’t escape the fact that Liverpool were absolutely woeful on the road. They lost all three of their fixtures with the defeat to Red Star Belgrade arguably being the most disappointing. Moving forward, Klopp needs to sort out his side’s away blues if they are to advance deep into the tournament.
However, as long as they have Anfield, they always seem to possess a chance, no matter what. Anfield is a fortress and it accorded Liverpool yet another lease of life.
But, we shouldn’t be surprised anymore because after all, that is what they do at Anfield, right?
