Sports - Football - Champions League - NAP 1:0 LIV
Liverpool suffered their second defeat in their last three matches, all winless in all competitions, losing 1:0 against Napoli in the Champions League group match at the Stadio San Paolo, thanks to Lorenzo Insigne’s last-minute winner (90’).
The Reds were a shadow of their usual attacking and hungry selves, losing the ball again and again and not recording a single shot on target in Italy on Wednesday night.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men, second in Serie A, six points behind leaders Juventus, dominated possession, play and didn’t let the visitors have a single sniffer into the game.
Jürgen Klopp was unusually quiet as well, not his usual manic shouting and gesturing self on the sideline. One could feel something was just missing, not clicking, not right.
Especially the front trio, Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah just couldn’t connect and kept misplacing and losing the ball, whilst there was no sign at all of Roberto Firmino.
Alisson stopped Arkadiusz Milik’s shot from swivelling in and collected the rebound (33’) before the Blues upped their game after the restart.
Milik’s drive was too much for the Brazilian stopper and needed to be hacked away by Virgil van Dijk (50’).
Joe Gomez cleared José Callejón’s volley off the line (75’) before sub Dries Mertens hit the crossbar (82’).
But the hosts were rewarded for all their hard work in the final minute of normal time when man of the match Insigne netted Callejón’s precise cross, sparking wild celebrations.
This result and PSG’s 6-1 thrashing of Red Star Belgrade throw Group C wide open, taking Napoli above Liverpool to the top.
It was the first time since February 2006 that the Reds have failed to record a single shot on target in a Champions League game (0-1 vs Benfica).
And December 2009 was the last time they have lost a Champions League game thanks to a 90th minute winner (Alberto Gilardino for Fiorentina).
It was the worst display by far this season, no pace, no connection, no chance and last season’s finalists only had their keeper and defenders to thank that it didn’t end up being a bigger thrashing.
It will not help their confidence ahead of the big Super Sunday Premier League clash against champions and league leaders Manchester City.
If they play like this against the champions, they will get thrashed, torn to bits and left to wreck...
But it wouldn't be the first time for Klopp to have a surprise up his sleeve and come back stronger.
The German conceded this one goes on him, it was his fault and will make sure they will learn from it to make sure the Reds keep their unbeaten record in the Premier League up and going.
But it wouldn't be the first time for Klopp to have a surprise up his sleeve and come back stronger.
Napoli Goal: Insigne 90’.
Napoli Team: 25 Ospina; 6 Rui, 26 Koulibaly (booked 25’), 33 Albiol, 19 Maksimovic; 8 Ruiz Peña (14 Mertens 68’), 17 Hamsik (c) (20 Zielinski 81’), 5 Allan, 7 Callejón; 99 Milik (9 Verdi 68’), 24 Insigne. 4-4-2
Subs not used: 23 Hysajs, 27 Karnezis, 30 Rog, 42 Diawara.
Liverpool Team: 13 Allison; 26 Robertson, 4 van Dijk, 12 Gomez, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 8 Keita (14 Henderson 19’), 5 Wijnaldum, 7 Milner (c) (booked 45’+2’) (3 Fabinho 76’); 10 Mané (15 Sturridge 89’), 9 Firmino, 11 Salah. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 6 Lovren, 18 Moreno, 22 Mignolet, 23 Shaqiri.
HT Stats: NAP 0-0 LIV
Possession: 52%-48%
Shots: 3-3
On target: 1-0
Corners: 1-0
Fouls: 5-5
Bookings: 1-1
FT Stats: NAP 1-0 LIV
Possession: 57%-43%
Shots: 14-4
On target: 5-0
Corners: 5-1
Fouls: 12-9
Bookings: 1-1
Referee: Viktor Kassai
Man of the match: Lorenzo Insigne
Ground: Stadio San Paolo
Attendance: 37,057
Click here for my last LFC match report.
All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Sky Sports app and BT and RMC Sport coverage.
All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Sky Sports app and BT and RMC Sport coverage.
No comments:
Post a Comment