Liverpool headed into their final Champions League group game with qualification already secured.
However, to take top spot from Napoli, the Reds would have had to beat the Serie A side by four goals due to their much worse goal difference.
But when all was said and done at Anfield, Liverpool only won 1-0.
It was a fairly scrappy opening to the game, which saw Liverpool fail to test the Napoli keeper and the Italians target the home side’s right-hand side.
Napoli then started the second half the brighter of the two teams and thought they had taken the lead 53 minutes in. The away side won a free-kick and Ostigard headed in unmarked to make it 1-0, but it was ruled out for offside after a long VAR check.
That was the last big chance of the game for some time, but Mohamed Salah won the match in the 85th minute. Darwin Nunez saw his header saved off the line and Salah stabbed home the loose ball.
📰 Table Of Contents
Liverpool player ratings
Alisson (5) – Made two saves in the 90 and was not tested too much.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (5) – Was done several times by Kvaratskheila, needing a lot of help from Konate and Milner to deal with the winger.
Ibrahima Konate (4.5) – Konate’s passing was rusty at times, which was to be expected after his recent absence. He made several Matip-Esque runs but to no avail.
Virgil van Dijk (7) – Was tested by the pace of Osimhen but managed to keep the striker pretty quiet. Should have scored late on but Nunez stole the goal off the line.
Kostas Tsimikas (5) – Did not offer too much going forward and was not tested much defensively as Napoli focused a lot of their play down the left.
Fabinho (5) – Did a decent job of neutralising Napoli’s threat down the centre but did have to make a few tactical fouls.
Thiago – Had a 90 per cent passing accuracy and produced a few good long balls but nothing too spectacular.
James Milner (4.5) – Struggled to keep up with the pace of Napoli’s midfield at times. Milner also dropped deep to provide cover for Trent but he too had a hard time defending Kvaratskheila. Was taken off after 47 minutes due to a concussion.
Mohamed Salah (6.5) – Offered the biggest threat of Liverpool’s front three in the first half, including slipping in Jones who smashed an effort over. Scored the winner late on.
Roberto Firmino (4) – Was largely marked out of the game in the first half and any attempts he made to find Salah and Jones came to nothing.
Curtis Jones (5) – Missed a good chance in the first half and struggled to link with Firmino and Salah before being subbed off.
Substitutes
Harvey Elliott (5) – Made a few key passes and was more lively than Milner, the man he replaced.
Darwin Nunez (6.5) – Won the header which led to Salah scoring the winner and tapped in off the line for the second.
Calvin Ramsey (N/A)
Fabio Carvalho (N/A)
Steffan Bajcetic (N/A)
Napoli player ratings
Meret (3.5)
Di Lorenzo (6)
Ostigard (6)
Kim (5)
Miramontes (6)
Ndombele (5)
Lobotka (5)
Anguissa (5)
Politano (4.5)
Osimhen (5.5)
Kvaratskheila (6)
Substitutes
Lozano (4)
Zieliński (N/A)
Elmas (N/A)
Fan reaction
#lfc Why has it taken Klopp so long to replace a terrible Jones, also Carvalho in midfield behind the front players could get a goal or create, yet Klopp dosent even give the kid 15-20 minutes. We will struggle on sunday against Tottenham if we cant create, need a spark
— Ahmet Gocer (@AhmetGocer2) November 1, 2022
Fabinho needs benched for couple games see if it’s takes his head from.his arse #fabinho #LFC
— Klopp the way I like it (@ftbgraemeftb) November 1, 2022
A very uneventful game, better than getting walked all over by Napoli like the first match though 😄👍🏻#LIVNAP #LFC #UCL #ChampionsLeague #LiverpoolvsNapoli
— Matt // Live Tweet Sports (@Matt_LiveSport) November 1, 2022
Fabinho… #LFC
— LiverGOATpool 🇧🇦 (@safet17042007) November 1, 2022
Expert view
HT: #LFC 0 Napoli 0: Had a real dead rubber feel to it for half an hour before belatedly coming to life. Thiago forcing a flying save and Jones, who has done well on the left, going close. Osimhen a handful for the Serie A side. Kvaratskhelia showing flashes of real class.
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceLFC) November 1, 2022
400 – Jürgen Klopp is the fourth Liverpool coach to reach the mark of 400 matches in all comps (Bob Paisley 535, Tom Watson 742, Bill Shankly 783). He has already won more matches than any other LFC coach within his first 400 matches with the club (243). NormalOne. pic.twitter.com/B6DdOS5cLr
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) November 1, 2022
Mohamed Salah in the Champions League group stage this season:
❌ vs. Napoli
⚽ vs. Ajax
⚽ vs. Rangers
⚽⚽⚽ vs. Rangers
⚽🅰️ vs. Ajax
⚽ vs. NapoliHe’s scored in 5 consecutive Champions League games for the first time. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Ijc6mB0evk
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 1, 2022
Mohamed Salah has now scored as many Champions League goals as Neymar:
𝗡𝗘𝗬
👕 Apps: 80
⚽️ Goals: 43
🅰️ Assists: 30
🏆 Titles: 1𝗠𝗢
👕 Apps: 77
⚽️ Goals: 43
🅰️ Assists: 12
🏆 Titles: 1Pick one. #UCL
— William Hill (@WilliamHill) November 1, 2022
Mohamed Salah has now scored more goals than any other player in the Champions League this season. 👑
It’s the same Mo as always in the #UCL
— Squawka (@Squawka) November 1, 2022
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