Liverpool’s position in the Champions League knockout stages is already guaranteed, but they face a difficult task if they are to prevent Napoli from winning Group A when the two clubs meet at Anfield on Tuesday.
The Reds qualified for the last 16 with a dominant win at Ajax last week, but they will enter their last group game three points behind Napoli, who are riding high at the top of Serie A and have won all five of their Champions League matches this season.
I Partenopei’s outstanding record includes a convincing 4-1 victory over Liverpool on Matchday One, and if the Reds are to finish above their Italian opponents in the group, they will have to exceed that result on Tuesday, which appears difficult considering both clubs’ current form.
Prediction
This would be a challenging test for a Liverpool side at their best, but given Klopp’s present troubles, it is difficult to see anything other than a Napoli victory.
Luciano Spalletti’s guests are hoping to complete a perfect group stage campaign by winning all six of their games, with five of their previous victories coming by at least a two-goal margin.
If Napoli grab all three points from Merseyside, they must be viewed seriously as legitimate Champions League challengers this season.
Stats
Liverpool has won four of their five Champions League matches this season, the same number of victories as they have in 12 Premier League games.
Liverpool’s 1-0 loss to Leeds on Saturday was their first domestic setback at Anfield since March 2021, albeit they have been beaten in the Champions League at the site during that span, with Inter Milan winning 1-0 earlier this year.
Napoli have probably been Europe’s form team this season, going unbeaten in 17 matches across all competitions, with each of the last 13 concluding in triumph.
That record included a 4-1 victory over Liverpool in September, which extended Napoli’s unbeaten streak over Jurgen Klopp’s team to three games, despite the fact that they have never won on three prior visits to Anfield.
Injury update
Liverpool were defeated 2-1 at home by Leeds last time out, their second consecutive Premier League defeat, with their uneven domestic play being largely attributed to a lengthy injury list.
Long-term injury absentees include Luis Diaz, Arthur, Joel Matip, and Diogo Jota, while Naby Keita is still recovering from a hamstring ailment.
Ibrahima Konate has been on the bench for Liverpool’s last two games due to a knee injury, but he could be ready to return this midweek.
Napoli will be without central defender Amir Rrahmani for the sixth time this season owing to a tendon problem, but midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa returned from a thigh injury in Saturday’s 4-0 win over Sassuolo and should be available for the trip to Anfield.
