Liverpool 1-0 Napoli: 5 Talking Points, UEFA Champions League 2018-19

#2 Liverpool’s big players stand up to be counted

Salah again came up with the goods for Liverpool

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.