Napoli draw puts Liverpool progress on hold

Dejan Lovren applauds the Liverpool support after the disappointing draw

Liverpool were made to wait to secure qualification to the Champions League last 16 as a stubborn Napoli held them to a 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Dries Mertens put Napoli ahead (21) with a fine finish from an acute angle, with Liverpool struggling to break down a disciplined defence in the first half.

They got going after the break, equalising through Dejan Lovren’s fine header (65), and despite camping in Napoli’s half for the remainder of the game, they could not find a way through.

Lovren’s goal earned Liverpool a draw against Napoli

The result means Liverpool’s destiny does remain in their own hands, knowing a draw at Red Bull Salzburg on December 10 will send them through, but Jurgen Klopp must field a strong side in Austria during a busy period for the European champions.

How Liverpool failed to finish the job

Liverpool were well under par in the first half, and suffered an early blow when Fabinho was forced off with a knee injury.

Their misery was compounded as a rare Napoli attack brought an opener in contentious circumstances. Virgil van Dijk was barged as he went up for a header with Mertens, but play continued as Giovanni Di Lorenzo fed Mertens just onside, and the Belgian cut across a fine half-volley from an acute angle past Alisson. VAR looked at the potential barge, but saw no foul.

Liverpool were blocked off thereon from a blue wall of Napoli, a solid, narrow two banks of four, but the hosts did move through the gears late in the first half as half-time was welcomed only by the away side.

Napoli’s Dries Mertens celebrates scoring the opener

Tempers were high – Klopp was booked for over-protesting before the break – but Liverpool eventually got going around the hour mark.

Roberto Firmino’s turn and shot with his back to goal was cleared off the line by Kalidou Koulibaly after goalkeeper Alex Meret’s mistake, but they were level moments later as Lovren brilliantly headed home James Milner’s corner, despite a strong call for a shove on Mertens which VAR adjudged to be fair.

Liverpool brought Trent Alexander-Arnold on for his deliveries, but nothing worked for Klopp’s side, as Napoli sat back, happy in the knowledge that a draw would mean they only need to avoid defeat against Genk in a fortnight.

That is how it ended, as a mix of fantastic Napoli defending and a lack of spark in Liverpool’s front three meant Klopp was left with more intense fears about the December schedule.

What the pundit said…

Phil Thompson on Soccer Special…

“I thought they were just poor, the decision-making, the pass was so slow, and they just didn’t move the Napoli defence about.

“Once Napoli had that lead to cling onto, they were settled. This wasn’t a good Napoli side, that’s the disappointing thing. If they’d got into second gear, they should have beaten them.

“It just wasn’t to be tonight, it just wasn’t Liverpool. I was a little bit disappointed with the attitude, that they didn’t go and nail it early on.”

Opta stats

• Liverpool are unbeaten in their previous eight games in all competitions at Anfield when behind (W5 D3).
• In all European competition, Napoli have failed to win their last 10 away matches in England (W0 D2 L8), facing six different English teams in that time (Arsenal, Burnley, Chelsea, Leeds United, Liverpool and Man City).
• Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 16 Champions League games at Anfield (W11 D5), last tasting defeat in October 2014 against Real Madrid.
• Dejan Lovren has scored eight goals for Liverpool, with the Reds never losing when the Croatian centre-back has scored (W7 D1). Each of his last three goals have come at Anfield.

What’s next?

Liverpool now host Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday at 3pm, with their final group game at Red Bull Salzburg on December 10.

The draw for the last 16 of the Champions League takes place on Monday December 16 in Nyon, with proceedings set to start at 11am, UK time.

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