Match Report: Liverpool 1-1 Napoli

Liverpool progressed to the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League with a 1-0 victory over Napoli at Anfield on Tuesday night, thanks to Mohamed Salah’s lone strike in the first half.

Liverpool went into the game knowing that they had their fate in their own hands. A 1-0 victory was always going to be enough for the Reds to make it to the knockout stages and Jurgen Klopp’s men looked the dominant force for the entire ninety minutes.

The Reds started off brightly and set the visitors on the back foot with some well-crafted moves from the centre of the park, something that they lacked in their previous two defeats in the group stages at the hands of Red Star Belgrade and PSG.

Sadio Mane’s goal from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross was ruled offside, just the beginning of what was going to be an eventful night for the Senegalese international. Mohamed Salah had a great chance to open the scoring but he let himself down with his heavy first-touch.

However, the Egyptian wizard didn’t make any mistake the next time he got a sight of goal. Up against Kalidou Koulibaly inside the box, Salah beat the Senegalese giant with his clever turn of pace to guide the ball between the legs of David Ospina, putting the Reds in the driver’s seat 34 minutes into the game.

In all honesty, Liverpool had plenty of chances in the second half and the scoreline could easily have been 5-0 or 6-0. Salah once again missed a sitter from close range while Virgil van Dijk failed to keep his effort on target.

Andrew Robertson’s cross from the left found Mane in a one-on-one position with only Ospina to beat but the Senegalese talisman squandered the chance, firing his shot straight at the goalkeeper’s legs.

Georginio Wijnaldum set Salah free down the left and the Egyptian’s pull-back into the box found Mane once again who fired his shot surprisingly over the bar from close range.

The game heated up in the last fifteen minutes and Napoli had a sight of goal but Jose Callejon failed to connect with Lorenzo Insigne’s cross from the left which was missed by Robertson.

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However, the Italians had their best chance in injury time when the ball fell kindly for Arkadiusz Milik inside the box, only to be denied by Alisson Becker’s heroics. Sadio Mane capped off a bizarre night of missed chances with another instance of poor finishing, firing his shot wide of the post from a one-on-one situation.

The 1-1 draw was enough to see Jurgen Klopp’s men through as the Reds qualified as the runners-up of Group C behind toppers PSG who beat Red Star Belgrade 4-1.

Fan Tweets

 

🔴🔴 Alisson #Becker’s amazing save 🧤⚽️🔥 #LIVNAP #LiverpoolNapoli pic.twitter.com/hQHTMEy74n

— jumana (@jumana_physio) December 11, 2018

Virgil Van Dijk treating Alisson Becker like a wee puppy has made my night even better #LIVNAP pic.twitter.com/YlR1McKFG6

— Adam (@SadioBobbySalah) December 11, 2018

48 – Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in 48 goals in 38 games in all competitions for Liverpool at Anfield (35 goals, 13 assists). Colossus. #LIVNAP pic.twitter.com/ggSXWJVNnT

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 11, 2018

Dear Lord, Alisson. I’d give you an extra 100 million for that save. Worth every fricking penny. #LIVNAP

— Lucy Zelić (@LucyZelic) December 11, 2018

Sadio Mane kept missing the goal so Ospina had to keep collecting the ball from behind the goal this wasting time 😏 #LIVNAP pic.twitter.com/USgLHgoHsH

— Shuj (@DrakesWriter1) December 11, 2018

Highlights from Napoli game..

-Alisson is unreal
-Salah hitting form at right time
-Criticised midfield looked solid
-Matip was as good as VVD
-Robbo bossed the game

Knockout round here we come😎♥️#LFC #LFCFamily #YNWA #LIVNAP #EuropeanRoyalty

— FantasticFirmino9❤️ (@MpbYNWA) December 11, 2018

ALISSON – WONDER- HANDS!!

HUGE SAVE!!! 💪🏻#LIVNAP #LFC #YNWA #UCL pic.twitter.com/TgC2k7bLp0

— Samantha Quek (@SamanthaQuek) December 11, 2018

16 – @LFC are still unbeaten in 16 home games in Europe with Jürgen Klopp (13 wins, 3 draws) and in their last 19 European home games in total. Anfield. #LIVNAP pic.twitter.com/fbJKYUIVO2

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) December 11, 2018

Y”all woken the beast Salah, one season wonder with the 13th goal of the season. Most of your fav players aint even scored 10 yet.#LIVNAP #NFFCShow

— KinG NomSo👑 (@ani_nomso) December 11, 2018

Yyyyyyyooooouuuuuuu wwwwwwwwiiiiillllllllllllllllll nnnnnnnnneeeeeevvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrr wwwwwwwaaaaaaaalllllllllkkkkkkkkk alooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee #LIVNAP pic.twitter.com/hocJM3VUu6

— kawweer (@kawweer) December 11, 2018

We’re through! One of the main reasons is this absolute beast of a goalie, late save against Milik was massive worth every penny is there a keeper in better form than him? #LIVNAP pic.twitter.com/vmVogPRs2z

— Craig (@Sons_LFC) December 11, 2018