Liverpool vs Napoli Preview:
Possible starting lineups:
Liverpool:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Napoli:
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Koulibaly, Hysaj; Callejon, Allan, Elmas, Fabian Ruiz; Lozano, Mertens
Liverpool are first in Group E with nine points. The Reds have started the Champions League campaign with a 2:0 defeat at Napoli, but then won three in a row. In the second match they beat Red Bull Salzburg with 4:3 at Anfield. In the following two rounds Liverpool collected six points against Genk. The Merseysiders won 4:1 in Belgium and then 2:1 at Anfield. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlan was the key name in these games after scoring three goals. A victory in this match will secure top spot in the group and with it their place in the knock-out stage. Both Liverpool and Napoli will progress should Salzburg fail to beat Genk, regardless of the result at Anfield. However, if Salzburg manage to beat Genk, it will be very interesting in the last round. Liverpool are in good form and they come into this game having collected three points against Crystal Palace on Saturday. Roberto Firmino secured the victory in the finish of the match. But there is no time for celebration, Liverpool have a busy schedule in the next period, playing in four competitions that also include the Club World Cup in Qatar next month. Klopp must consider rotations, particularly knowing some players are tired. Both full-backs, Alexander-Arnold and Robertson, need some break according to me. Central defender Joel Matip remain sidelined through injury. Mohamed Salah was an unused substitute at Selhurst Park following an ankle injury. Xherdan Shaqiri should be included in the squad having now recovered from a calf injury. Fabinho has received his fifth yellow card against the Eagles and will miss Saturday's match against Brighton through suspension. That means the Brazilian is likely to start here. Nathaniel Clyne is a long-term absentee with a knee injury.
Napoli are on the second place in Group E with eight points. The Vesuvians have two wins and two draws so far. Napoli were in the same group with Liverpool last season and the Italians also beat the Reds at Stadio San Paolo. Eventually, they were eliminated on goal-difference after losing 1:0 at Anfield. Considering this fact, I think Ancelotti's men will have lot of motives for a revenge. But the actual form isn't at desired level. The Partenopei have no win on the last six matches across all competitions, although they lost just once. To be worse, the atmosphere in the squad is bad. President Aurelio De Laurentiis has fined the players $2.75 million. De Laurentiis ordered the team to go into a week-long retreat following a string of disappointing results, but the players refused the order. De Lauentiis is looking to fine every member of the roster, excluding Kevin Malcuit who is rehabbing a knee injury, the maximum allotted 25 percent of their salary. He is also ready to sell those responsible for the rebellion with Koulibaly, Mertens, Callejon, Allan and Insigne all reportedly set to leave. Hysaj and Ghoulam's futures remain uncertain following the revolt. Anyway, Ancelotti has two injury issues ahhead of this match as Arkadiusz Milik and Lorenzo Insigne are rated as highly doubtful.
Liverpool vs Napoli Prediction:
Liverpool are unbeaten in their past 24 home matches in European competition, winning 18 of them. The Reds are huge favorites, but something else is important to be mentioned - Klopp's men have failed to keep clean sheet on the last 10 matches across all competitions. All of those ten games have finished with goals on both sides. Of course, it's not a problem as Liverpool won the most of them, but it remain the fact they have a problem to keep the net untouched. Napoli are the only team that beat Liverpool this season, so I believe they are able to take advantage from Liverpool's defensive issues.
Liverpool vs Napoli Pick: Both teams to score - Yes @ 1.75 with Bet365
