Liverpool face Napoli in their second game of the Champions League this season away at the Stadio San Paolo in Naples, Italy.
Napoli are currently sitting in second in Serie A with 15 points, one behind Juventus who lead the table by six points.
They have won five of their seven Serie A games, losing the other two, with their last result being a 3-1 defeat to Juventus. Mario Mandzukic scored a brace in that game, with Leonardo Bonucci getting the other, as Dries Mertens scored the only goal for Napoli.
Their last game in the Champions League was a 0-0 draw away at Red Star Belgrade.
Napoli’s most recent starting line-up entailed a defensive structure of David Ospina between the sticks and a back four of Marco Rui, Kalidou Koulibaly, Raul Albiol and Elseid Hysaj.
The midfield consisted of Piotr Zielinski, skipper Marek Hamsik and Allan, in a three-man midfield. Dries Mertens led the line with Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon on the wings.
Napoli play a 4-3-3, in a similar style of football to Liverpool, quick on the counter with pace up front and a creative, untraditional forward operating in the striker role.
Liverpool last played Napoli away from home in October 2010, in a match that ended goalless. Pepe Reina was the first-choice goalkeeper back then and he operated behind a back four that consisted of Paul Konchesky, Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Martin Kelly.
Jay Spearing, Christian Poulsen and Jonjo Shelvey made up the inexperienced Liverpool midfield. Milan Jovanovic, Ryan Babel and David N’Gog made up the attack for Liverpool, evoking little surprise as to why the game ended goalless.
Liverpool played Napoli in pre-season in Dublin, with the game ending 5-0 in the Reds’ favour. James Milner, Gini Wijnaldum, Mohamed Salah, Daniel Sturridge and Alberto Moreno all scored in that game.
The first three will most likely start the game and Daniel Sturridge’s inclusion is a high possibility after his equaliser against Chelsea from the bench.
Liverpool will be looking to continue their fine form in the Champions League, after a 3-2 victory over PSG last week and bounce back from their defeat and then draw to Chelsea.
