Jürgen Klopp’s men needed to win by four goals or more to take first place from Spalletti’s men, undefeated since April
The VAR played a key role in annulling Ostigard’s 0-1 for a millimetric offside. Salah and Darwin gave the ‘red’ victory
There was no feat at Anfield. Liverpool needed to win by four goals or more against Napoli to snatch the first place and they stayed halfway. A somewhat misleading 2-0 since only at the end Jürgen Klopp’s men were able to tip the balance. The VAR, a great protagonist when annulling Ostigard’s 0-1 for a millimetric offside. Napoli’s first KO of the course, which is left without a perfect group stage and whose last defeat dated back to April 24 against Empoli (3-2).
DATA SHEET
Champions League
LIV
NAP
LINEUPS
Liverpool
Allison; Alexander-Arnold (Ramsay, 87′), Van Dijk, Konaté, Tsimikas; Thiago (Bajcetic, 87′), Fabinho, Milner (Elliot, 48′), Jones (Darwin, 73′); Salah and Firmino (Carvalho, 87′).
Naples
Mereth; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Kim, Olivera; Ndombele (Raspadori, 88′), Lobotka (Zielinski, 83′), Anguissa; Politano (Lozano, 70′), Kvaratskhelia (Elmas, 83′) and Osimhen.
goals
1-0 M. 85 Salah. 2-0 M. 98 Darwin Nunez.
Referee
Tobias Stieler German). TA: Konaté (36′), Alexander-Arnold (74′) and Darwin Núñez (94′),.
Incidents
Anfield. 53,280 spectators.
Klopp arranged a diamond formation and rotated less than expected. Changing the classic 4-3-3 has been more common for a Liverpool that has started the season very irregularly. The duel predicted goals but both were neutralized in the first half. Only Kvaratskhelia was slightly off script.
Ndombele had the clearest approach of the partenopeos in the first act and the ‘red’ responded immediately with a great play between Salah and Thiago and with a header from Curtis Jones. Meret prevented Salah’s goal just before half-time, although the play was annulled for offside.
The same penalty was received after the restart by a header from Ostigard who kissed the tights. But this time VAR through and with three minutes of suspense. Finally, the technology ruled that the central headed in a non-regulatory position for one more size of t-shirt.
There were no clear arrivals until a corner in the 85th minute Salah pushed a rebound from Meret into the net, which he did enough saving a shot with Darwin’s head on the line. The Uruguayan was not left without getting wet, because at 98′ the action was repeated. Corner kick, Van Dijk played Darwin and the Charrúa played Salah. Ball into the net and again the VAR validated the action. The group stays as the night began.