Key events
Andy Robertson speaks to BT. “”We were miles too open. You can’t come to a place like this and not be compact. We had chances. They were the miles better team. But when we’re a team that presses and you miss one challenge, you need somebody to follow it up and back his mate up. But too many times they had big opens spaces to run into and send balls in behind to cause our centre-backs problems. We have to get back to basics. Unfortunately, we deserved this result. They found so many spaces. It felt like they had an extra man, and that’s not like us. You have to be ready to fight, and I don’t think we were close enough to our mate when they went to press the ball, I don’t think people were backing them up quick enough. When you do that, you get picked off like we did. We deserve it, we need to waken up and quickly. We can’t perform like that.”
Not a great night for the British teams in Group A, then. Liverpool will hope to bounce back against Ajax at Anfield next Tuesday, while Rangers look to do likewise when they host Napoli. Both teams will have to seriously up their game if they’re to achieve these particular goals.
A good night for Jordan Henderson, if few others associated with Liverpool. Luis Diaz scored an excellent goal, while Harvey Elliott showed some fight. And Thiago is back. But these are slim pickings. Last season’s runners-up were blown away by Napoli, for whom Victor Osimhan was borderline unplayable. Piotr Zieliński and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa weren’t too shabby either. In fact, Napoli were to a man excellent, though they’ll be set far tougher tests than this. A flaccid mess tonight, Liverpool are in danger of letting this season spiral out of control. They’re currently in a three-way battle for sole possession of the Crisis Baton with Chelsea and Leicester City. Game on!
FULL TIME: Napoli 4-1 Liverpool
Napoli were magnificent. As well as scoring four, they also missed a penalty, hit the post, and had a shot cleared off the line. A 7-1 rout wouldn’t flatter them at all. Liverpool were abject, a pale shadow of the team that reached the final back in May.
90 min +3: A 4-1 loss is still pretty hefty, though, filed alongside 3-0 drubbings at Real Madrid (2014) and Barcelona (2019).
90 min +2: Napoli press an exhausted opposition back, without ever really threatening to break through for a fifth goal that would equal Liverpool’s worst-ever defeat in Europe’s premier competition. For the record, that’s the aforementioned 5-1 defeat at emerging Ajax in 1966.
90 min: There will be four minutes of additional time.
89 min: Alexander-Arnold digs out a cross from the byline to the right of goal. Nobody in red gets anywhere near it, but Rrahmani heads out for a corner just in case. Nothing comes from the set piece.
88 min: Thiago sashays out of a tight spot in the middle of the park and slides a ball forward for Nunez, who has his back to goal on the edge of the box. Nunez tries to tee up Jota, but nothing’s going right for Liverpool’s new striker right now.
86 min: Napoli race upfield on a three on two. Zerbin makes his way to the edge of the Liverpool box and curls powerfully towards the top right. But it’s well telegraphed and easy for Alisson.
84 min: Some space for Arthur out on the right. His low cross is blocked out for a corner. Alexander-Arnold takes. It’s easily cleared. What Liverpool would give for hearing the final whistle now.
82 min: Jota tries to wriggle after a Thiago pass, but is crowded out in the box. Another Liverpool goal would seriously flatter the visitors. This scoreline’s pretty flattering as it is.
80 min: Diaz’s goal momentarily sucked the life out of the stadium, but the home fans have long got over that, and are now singing away in a very mellow, contented style. Making their own fun, with precious little going on, the game having been won some time ago.
78 min: Meret goes down having been winded in an aerial duel with Nunez. Double good news for Napoli: the keeper caught the ball, and after a quick once-over from the doctor, is good to continue.
77 min: Arthur Melo comes on for his Liverpool debut. He replaces Elliott.
76 min: Liverpool are astonishingly lacklustre. Very little verve on display, with only Elliott, Diaz and Thiago showing any sort of drive. Here’s Kári Tulinius: “Lately there’s been lots of comparisons drawn with Klopp’s final season in Dortmund, but if memory serves, the underlying numbers were always good, and the ball just didn’t bounce their way. Right now Liverpool feels like a clock with springs sproinging out the back and pointers flying every which way.”
74 min: Napoli make a double change. Olivera and the two-goal hero Zielinski make way for Mario Rui and Elmas.
73 min: Nunez goes on a dribble down the left but is easily dispossessed by Rrahmani.
71 min: Lozano latches onto a loose ball by the left-hand corner of the Liverpool D, but his weak shot dribbles harmlessly wide of the left-hand post. Alisson had it covered all the way.
69 min: Elliott rolls a cute pass down the right to release Nunez into the box. He drops a shoulder to send Di Lorenzo sliding away, but then inexplicably tries to beat the stricken defender on the outside, succeeding only in slapping the ball straight at him. Napoli clear, and the chance to take a shot from a tight angle is gone.
68 min: Napoli, for the first time this evening, are discombobulated by the Liverpool press. The ball breaks to Nunez, who tries to flipper a shot into the bottom right. It’s blocked and cleared without too much fuss.
66 min: Alexander-Arnold hoicks the free kick miles over everyone’s head. What a waste. Liverpool’s entire evening has been a compendium of gaffes and blunders.
65 min: Diaz looks to break clear down the left, but is unceremoniously scythed down in Milneresque fashion by Rrahmani, who goes into the book. Free kick in a dangerous position, and Liverpool load the box.
63 min: Liverpool make a triple change. Milner, Firmino and £350k-a-week Salah make way for Thiago, Jota and Nunez.
62 min: Alexander-Arnold crosses viciously from the right. Diaz channels his inner Keith Houchen and sends a flying header goalwards … but straight at Meret, who tips over the bar spectacularly. Nothing comes of the resulting corner. Meanwhile Colum Fordham is watching from Naples but on TV. “The Italian commentators stated the roar from the stadium after Zielinski’s penalty reached 113 decibels, slightly more than a pneumatic drill or a plane taking off. And the screams of delight from my lane have been arguably more powerful.”
60 min: Lozano releases Simeone on goal with a lob over Liverpool’s back line. For once, the offside trap is in good nick, and the flag pops up to save the day for the visitors.
58 min: Napoli make a double change. Kvaratskhelia and Politano make way for Lozano and Zerbin. “That Luiz goal could be the spark for an unlikely old-school European comeback,” begins Matt Dony. “And if that were to happen, it would be great. But, if I’m honest, I hope it doesn’t. Something is wrong this season. An emotional comeback would mask that. Losing this game shouldn’t necessarily affect qualification, but a comprehensive shoeing could be a good thing in the long run.” Aye, just look at Bournemouth. Four points in two games after that 9-0.
56 min: Robertson crosses to nobody in particular. Kvaratskhelia tears off on the counter, running nearly the entire length of the pitch, before running into trouble on the edge of the Liverpool box.
54 min: Alexander-Arnold dinks a pass down the right for Salah, whose persistence wins a corner. Liverpool have had plenty of these, if not much else. Alexander-Arnold’s delivery is easily cleared.
53 min: Kvaratskhelia skins Alexander-Arnold with absurd ease down the left. He can’t get past Matip, though, but for a second there, Liverpool looked exposed yet again. Their defence is in ruins.
51 min: Alexander-Arnold sends a diagonal pass towards Robertson on the left. Robertson beats Di Lorenzo and rolls back for Diaz, who dummies a couple of times to make space for another shot. This one, intended for the top right, flies wide and high, maybe with the aid of a deflection, but Liverpool aren’t getting the corner.
GOAL! Napoli 4-1 Liverpool (Diaz 49)
An immediate response, as Diaz cuts inside from the left, drops a shoulder, and whips an unstoppable shot across Meret and into the bottom right! What a finish, and it’s Liverpool’s first-ever goal in Naples, but chances are it’s not going to do them much good. What a weird match this is!
GOAL! Napoli 4-0 Liverpool (Zielinski 47)
This is so easy. So embarrassing for Liverpool. Lobotka slips a long pass down the right for Simeone, who passes infield for Zielinski. He’s free! He slams a low shot straight at Alisson, who parries well, but the ball breaks back to Zielinksi who calmly dinks over the stricken keeper and into the net! What a start to the half!
46 min: Liverpool win a quick corner. Matip rises highest, but his downwards header is easy for Meret. And then …
Liverpool get the ball rolling for the second half. They’ve made one fairly predictable change: Joe Gomez, who was flailing around in a worrying fashion, has been replaced by Joel Matip.
The lads in the BT Sport studio aren’t too happy either. Robbie Fowler questions Liverpool’s desire: “Their defence has been absolutely shocking.” Rio Ferdinand adds: “That’s an embarrassing 45 minutes. What you can’t accept is a lack of effort, of desire. It’s just not good enough.” Perhaps the most damning statement was made by the normally placid Michael Owen, who admits: “I think Liverpool fans have been expecting this for a little while. The performances haven’t been great. They’re being shown up.”
It’s worth remembering that Napoli have also hit a post, missed a penalty and had a shot cleared off the line. So with that in mind – and I’d love to know the xG scoreline after that first half, it can’t be far off 6-0 – here’s the HALF-TIME POSTBAG!
“I’m a Liverpool fan and I love Joe Gomez. He was outstanding against Everton on Saturday and tonight he is a shambles and that’s exactly why he’ll never be an elite defender. The best are consistent, unfortunately he isn’t” – Gareth Aherne.
“Klopp now understands the ‘is Napoli safe?’ question from that reporter” – Jeff Sachs.
“Tuchel and his staff may have a new job quicker than expected” – Brendan Large.
“Should Liverpool sign Harry Maguire as cover for Gomez?” – Niall O’Keeffe.
HALF TIME: Napoli 3-0 Liverpool
The whistle goes, and Napoli celebrate with each other like it’s over. Which, Liverpool’s history of three-goal comebacks in Europe notwithstanding, it kind of already is. Napoli have been sensational. Liverpool have been sensationally bad. Klopp races off down the tunnel, presumably about to deliver the mother of all salvos.
45 min: Liverpool look thoroughly embarrassed, as well they might. As good as Napoli have been, the visitors have defended appallingly. “Regarding my earlier email I would like to change my stance,” writes Philip Taylor of 11 min fame. “I would now kill for a spine of Kelly-Poulsen-N’Gog.”
GOAL! Napoli 3-0 Liverpool (Simeone 44)
Zambo Anguissa confuses Firmino in the centre circle with a graceful dragback, then sends his team on the attack. Kvaratskhelia zips down the left, beats Gomez with absurd ease, and whistles a low cross in for Simeone, who knocks home from a couple of yards. This is a rout!
42 min: Liverpool take their corner, and after a little pinball, the ball drops to Van Dijk. Surprised, he can’t get a proper shot away. For all their issues at the back, Liverpool are causing Napoli a few problems up the other end.
41 min: Osimhen is replaced by Simeone.
40 min: Elliott has been lively, Liverpool’s best player this evening, though that’s not saying too much in and of itself. His exchange down the right with Salah leads to another corner. Before it can be taken, though, Osimhen goes down, that muscle problem having presumably reared up again.
39 min: Firmino crosses deep from the left. Elliott shapes to swivel a shot from the edge of the box, but he chances his mind at the last minute, slipping the pass right to Alexander-Arnold, an ersatz version of Pele to Carlos Alberto in the 1970 World Cup final. Alexander-Arnold can’t complete the tribute, and his shot is blocked.
37 min: Your timely reminder that Liverpool have never scored in this stadium.
35 min: Milner curls in from the left. The cross skims off Olivera’s head and drops to Elliott at the far stick. Elliott improvises in the hope of bundling home, but can only knee it wide right. Liverpool have had 61 percent possession, but that’s as close as they’ve come.
34 min: Alexander-Arnold sends a free kick in from the left. Van Dijk does well to climb and send a header towards the top right, but Meret is behind it all the way. Thing is, Liverpool have been half-decent in attack. But they’re all over the shop at the back.
33 min: I mean, this could so easily be 4-0 or 5-0 … and it wouldn’t flatter Napoli one jot.
GOAL! Napoli 2-0 Liverpool (Zambo Anguissa 31)
Kvaratskhelia, undeterred, robs Gomez down the left. He cuts back for Zambo Anguissa, who one-twos with Ziellinski down the channel. Zambo Anguissa is free in the box! He opens his body and powerfully sidefoots past Alisson, who was totally exposed. Napoli are ripping Liverpool’s defence to shreds again and again!
30 min: Salah stabs a shot straight at Meret. So near to an equaliser, but then …
29 min: What a clearance that was, though Kvaratskhelia should never have allowed Van Dijk the opportunity of making it. Nothing comes of the resulting corner, and Liverpool have somehow limited the damage to 1-0. They could so easily be three down already.