Liverpool and Napoli are guaranteed to finish no lower than third place in Champions League Group E but both clubs are aiming for a top-two finish and qualification to the knockout round.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are top of Group E with nine points from 12. The only team to take points off of Liverpool were Napoli on matchday 1 in Naples, 2-0. Since that loss, Liverpool’s only of the season, the Reds have gone unbeaten in 13 straight games with 11 finishing in wins.
Napoli’s recent form has been poor and manager Carlo Ancelotti has struggled to win games. It is easy to forget that Ancelotti was Klopp’s competition for the Liverpool job before the German was appointed. Now, it seems as if these teams cannot stop avoiding each other.
The Partenopei are unbeaten in six straight matches in all competitions with five of those games finishing in draws. Napoli finished 1-1 with AC Milan at the weekend conceding a 29th-minute goal after taking a 25th-minute lead.
Liverpool and Napoli have played three times in the last 12 months with the home team winning all three games to nil. Napoli dominated the two matches played in Italy winning by a combined 3-0 scoreline.
The Reds pulled off a huge victory last December on the final Champions League group stage matchday to progress to the knockout stage. It was the catalyst to the Reds’ Champions League cup win.
Klopp has got a boost heading into the midweek Champions League clash with Napoli as Mohamed Salah has been cleared to play. Salah had been showing the effects of an ankle injury suffered in October against Leicester City. The winger didn’t play in the Reds’ weekend win over Crystal Palace.
Sadio Mane is incredible form for Liverpool. Mane has bagged two goals in the Champions League and eight in the Premier League. The winger has tallied three goals in his last three league matches.
Another superb Sadio performance to enjoy 💫 pic.twitter.com/addrn0a3sE— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 25, 2019
Another superb Sadio performance to enjoy 💫 pic.twitter.com/addrn0a3sE
Centre-back Joel Matip is ruled out through injury as in-form Dejan Lovren will continue to play in his place. Xherdan Shaqiri could return to the team after being sidelined since September with a calf injury.
Ancelotti’s team is in good shape heading into the match but a few injury concerns do loom. Left-back Faouzi Ghoulam and striker Arkadiusz Milik have been suffering from bruised knees. Kevin Malcuit is out until April with a knee ligament injury.
Based on the last three Champions League matches between Liverpool and Napoli, expect a low-scoring game with under 2.5 goals. Like last season at Anfield, Liverpool will edge the Italians and pick up a victory. The win will clinch Liverpool’s progression to the knockout stage of the Champions League.