It was a night to forget in Naples for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool who were handed a thumping 4-1 defeat by the home side Napoli in the opening group stage Champions League fixture.
MATCH PROCEEDINGS
Napoli could have had a first lead through Osimhen who was teed up by Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s pass as the striker could only hit the post with his effort.
The Italians, however, did open the scoring come the fifth minute when Zielinski converted from the spot after James Milner had been penalized for a handball.
Osimhen was close to doubling his side’s advantage after being brought down by Virgil van Dijk inside the box but Liverpool stopper Alisson Becker was equal to the task with the Brazillian producing a fine save to keep out the penalty.
Anguissa scored the second for Napoli who added another goal to their lead before heading into the break with substitute Simeone slotting the ball into the back of the net from close range.
Napoli added a fourth through midfield man Zielinski with Alisson’s first save quite brilliant but unable to deny the former from scoring on the follow-up.
Liverpool desperately needed a goal for consolation and got one with Luis Diaz striking a well-taken finish into the bottom corner of the net.
Diaz went close once again just minutes later with the Columbian forward’s effort calling Napoli goalie Alex Meret to make an important save.
Changes off the bench for the visitors in the later stages of the game, with Darwin Nunez, Thiago Alcantara and Arthur Melo coming on, failed to turn the tide in Liverpool’s favour with the Reds suffering a big defeat in their Champions League opener.
