Liverpool starts their 2022/23 Champions League campaign with a daunting trip to Naples to face Napoli. The Reds have lost their last two meetings in this away clash.
Jurgen Klopp;’s men suffered their worst start to their campaign after a 0-0 draw against Everton in the Merseyside derby while Napoli came from behind to defeat Lazio 2-1.
NAP vs LIV Match Details
Date: Wednesday, 7 September 2022 / Thursday, 8 September 2022
Time: 20:00 (BST) / 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples
NAP vs LIV Match Preview
Napoli are aiming for another Scudetto charge this season after going close last time out and their unbeaten start to the season is an indication of things to come from them. Despite losing star defender Kalidou Koulibaly to Chelsea and captain Lorenzo Insigne making his move to MLS, the side from Naples has regrouped themselves by making some crucial signings in the summer. The most exciting one has been the Georgian hot talent, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Terminated his contact with Russian club Rubin Kazan in the summer due to death threats, Kvaratskhelia has lit up Serie A with four goals in five matches for Napoli entertaining with his immense dribbling skills. Signed from Fenerbache, Min Jae-Kim has filled up the void left by Koulibaly in the heart of defense almost mimicking the Senegalese through his passing ability and scoring from corners. With Osimhen back to full fitness and scoring, the team has found a fantastic rhythm this season. Napoli went behind against Lazio at the weekend in the fourth minute from a Mattia Zaccagni’s strike but responded through their two new signings, Min-Jae Kim and Kvaratskhelia after consecutive draws. Courtesy of their third win of the new Serie A season, Partenopei sits second in the table with 11 points, two points behind Atalanta, with no defeats to show and only twice dropped points. Their Champions League group stage campaign begins with a tough test against Liverpool but their excellent record at home against the Reds is a source of optimism to bring their domestic momentum to the European stage. Also, Luciano Spalleti’s men have not lost a Champions League game at Maradona in the last eight encounters. With tricky opponents in Dutch champions Ajax and Europa League finalists Rangers to face in the group, Napoli look forward to troubling the English giants not in their silkiest best at the moment.
Not before Liverpool have suffered such a crisis start to a new season under Jurgen Klopp, an unwanted record that piled upon them after a 0-0 draw with Everton at the Merseyside derby. The share of spoils at Goodison Park meant the Reds have not collected a win away from Anfield this season slipping them to seventh in the Premier League table with six points behind league leaders Arsenal after six games. The derby at the weekend could have easily gone to anyone’s favor with both sides hitting the post and both goalkeepers, especially Jordan Pickford, preventing any lead in the game. Conor Coady’s goal twenty minutes from time was flagged offside VAR otherwise Liverpool once again would have come away from a trip empty-handed. Injuries have been the stifling reason for Liverpool’s struggles this season. More so in the midfield where Klopp has to work without Jordan Henderson and Fabio Carvalho in addition to the other absentees for the middle of the park although Thiago Alcantara’s return is a massive boost for the side. If Liverpool thought to find a hopeful fixture to turn their tides around then they shouldn’t have wanted to start the new Champions League season with a trip to Napoli. Even with a fit squad and in their usual standards, the Reds have been frustrated by the home side in the previous meetings so much that they failed to score in the previous three meetings at the ground renamed as Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Their only two wins since 2010 came at Anfield. The disappointing record here will trouble Klopp to pick the team up amid injuries to fight an opposition so strong in their backyard. Liverpool became the first English team to win all of their group stage games of the Champions League on their route to the final last season so they could take inspiration from their own performance to build stability in this congested schedule. The Reds have also won the last three away games facing a side from Italy which could help them pick up the first win in this meeting away from home.
Recent Form
NAP: WDDWW
LIV: DWWLD
NAP vs LIV Team News
Napoli manager Luciano Spalleti has said Victor Osimhen has looked positive in his training after sustaining a knock in the win over Lazio at the weekend and has a chance to start the game against Liverpool if he stays fit in the late sessions ahead of the clash. Harvey Lozano also showed an injury concern stretched off in the same match but scans showed the Mexican has avoided facial fracture. He is available for the game but it is highly likely that Mateo Politano will start over Lozano in the right wing. In excellent form, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will look for his first Champions goal in his debut in the competition.
Jurgen Klopp once again has to make key decisions for Liverpool plagued with injuries this season. Club captain Jordan Henderson has been the latest player to be sidelined with a hamstring injury which will keep him out until the international break. Fabio Carvalho suffered a dead leg in the Merseyside derby at the weekend and has not traveled with the squad as is Curtis Jones who picked up a shin injury on his return to training. The good news for Liverpool is midfielder Thiago Alcantara has participated in the training and has traveled with the squad to Naples. On loan from Juventus, Arthur Melo will receive game minutes as confirmed by the manager but will not play a full game. Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and Naby Keita are not registered for the competition due to their long-term injuries. Ibrahima Konate is out for the rest of the year.
NAP vs LIV Head to Head
Dries Mertens scored from the spot in the 80th minute and Fernando Llorente collected Napoli’s second of the evening after Van Dijk gave away the ball in the stoppage time to leave Liverpool distorted in a 2-0 loss last time the pair met at Naples three years back. Lorenzo Insigne also lived it late to score the winner in 1-0 victory against the Reds a year prior at this ground but Liverpool went on to lift the trophy that season.
NAP vs LIV Predicted Lineups
NAP: Alex Meret; Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, Min-Jae Kim, Mario Rui; Zambo Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotka; Matteo Politano, Piotr Zielinski, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Victor Osimhen
LIV: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Harvey Elliott, Fabinho, James Milner; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Luis Diaz
NAP vs LIV Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Alisson
DEF: Di Lorenzo, Van Dijk, Kim, Robertson
MID: Elliott, Zielinski, Diaz, Kvaratskhelia
FW: Salah, Osimhen
Captain: Mo Salah
Vice-captain: Luis Diaz
