Liverpool’s Champions League marketing campaign off to disastrous begin after 4-1 walloping by Napoli

The shock results of the opening spherical of UEFA Champions League fixtures got here at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona the place SSC Napoli dismantled Liverpool 4-1 on Wednesday to affix AFC Ajax as early Group A leaders after an unpredictable midweek slate throughout the board.

Luciano Spalletti’s males wanted simply 5 minutes to take the lead via Piotr Zielinksi’s penalty and it might simply have been two had Victor Osimhen transformed from the penalty spot after 18. Napoli did double their lead simply after the half hour mark via Andre Zambo Anguissa from a Zielinski help earlier than Osimhen was pressured off via harm.

The Nigeria worldwide’s substitute Giovanni Simeone wasted little time in getting in on the act with a 3rd for the Partenopei simply three minutes later after being teed up by Khvicha Kvaratskvhelia. The Georgia worldwide was electrical, ripping into Liverpool at each potential alternative because the Reds struggled to familiarize yourself with the Italians and Jurgen Klopp’s males have been fortunate it was solely three on the break.

Three turned 4 simply two minutes into the second 45 when Zielinski wanted two makes an attempt to beat Alisson Becker after being performed in by the sensational Kvaratskvhelia. Luis Diaz reacted two minutes later, although, throwing his teammates a scarcely deserved lifeline in Naples from and Andy Robertson help which was finally not seized upon.

The outcome sees Napoli be a part of Ajax with an early benefit in Champions League Group A after the Dutch giants thumped Rangers 4-0 and Spalletti’s aspect are actually on an unbeaten run of 4 wins from six matches to this point this season. As for Liverpool, Klopp’s aspect have simply two wins from seven, draw too typically and subsequent face a difficult conflict with Ajax who’ve rediscovered their European swagger.

The German tactician is discovering his seventh season at Anfield powerful going to this point which was additionally the case with Mainz 05 and Borussia Dortmund earlier than that. Worryingly for the Reds, he has a number of complications to take care of as Premier League points have adopted the staff onto the continental stage — notably in the midst of the park.

Much of Liverpool’s present distress stems from the midfield the place Fabinho, James Milner, Harvey Elliott and later Thiago Alcantara struggled to get any foothold within the sport at any level. However, the protection is equally regarding and arguably struggling due to that lack of midfield authority with Joel Matip being despatched on to finish Joe Gomez’s first half distress in a mercy gesture from Klopp with Virgil van Dijk additionally unrecognizable of late.

Liverpool not often get blown out like they did by Napoli with Real Madrid and Manchester City the one two sides to inflict moderately heavy aggressive defeats since Aston Villa’s staggering 7-2 mauling of the Reds again in late 2020. However, this feels extra regarding, particularly given Klopp’s historical past at this stage of his tenures.

There is little question that the 55-year-old has earned the suitable to keep away from the identical knee jerk therapy that Thomas Tuchel has been on the receiving end of with Chelsea this week, however one thing is clearly not fairly proper throughout the squad as evidenced by the late determination to maneuver for Arthur Melo this summer time. How lengthy till this sluggish begin to the season turns into one thing extra worrying?

As for Napoli, although, one other superb begin to the season will get higher and Spalletti’s overhauled squad appears to be like extraordinarily potent. Fielding Osimhen when injured was a threat but it surely paid off as he was a part of that first half blitz on Liverpool and will have even scored. As lengthy because the Nigerian is match and Kvaratskvhelia is on hearth, the Italians really feel like sturdy contenders to prime a bunch which might get tough for Klopp and his gamers.