Liverpool 1-0 Napoli: Another special European night at Anfield – reds through

Champions League Group Stage Game 6
Tuesday 11 December 2018 - 8:00 pm
Anfield
Liverpool1
0Napoli
Show Match Events
van Dijk13'
⚽️ Salah34'
40' Koulibaly
62'↔️ Ruiz off, Zielinski on
67'↔️ Mertens off, Milik on
70'↔️ Rui off, Ghoulam on
Firmino off, Keïta on ↔️79'
Salah83'
Milner off, Fabinho on ↔️85'
Mane90'
Robertson90'
Alexander-Arnold off, Lovren on ↔️90'
Possession %
4852
Total Shots
228
Shots on Target
43
Shots Blocked
5
Offside
54
Hide Match Events

Liverpool secured their first back to back seasons in the Champions League knockouts for 10 years with a home victory over Napoli.

The reds needed two win, either 1-0 or by two clear goals, to advance to the last 16 stage.

Mo Salah continued his goalscoring streak, giving the reds a first half lead, and in the dying minutes of the game Alisson Becker saved from point blank range to get the reds over the line.

The reds did suffer injury blows in the game, with Joel Matip confirmed out with a collarbone break, but the Champions League can be put to one side until February now after Liverpool's win.

Last years midfield were rolled out for this crucial game - with Henderson, Milner and Wijnaldum the preferred midfield trio.

And to large extent the game was another positive performance from the reds, who had dispatched Bournemouth 4-0 at the weekend.

If fault could be found in last night's performance it was arguably that the reds were only 1-0 up.

There were chances, certainly in the second half, for Liverpool to put this tie to bed.  In the end the reds went through on the narrowest of margins.  Level on points with Napoli, 1-0 wins for both sides in their respective home clashes - LFC going through on the simple fact we scored more goals in the group stage.

Salah had chances before his goal, but in the 34th minute he slipped the ball inside of David Ospina - sending the Anfield Road and the rest of the stadium into a frenzy.

As the second half minutes ticked away, Napoli opted for a more direct approach with their boss Carlo Ancelotti looking on.

A breakaway chance for the reds was wasted when Sadio Mane shot wide and it was back at Liverpool.

55,000 people held their breath when Arkadiusz Milik received a ball in the middle of the penalty area but Alisson spread himself and denied the equaliser.  Huge cheers from the crowd and moments later the final whistle blew.

After the game Klopp insisted that if he'd known how good Alisson would be he would have paid double.  Difficult to argue.

The draw for the knockouts is on Monday.  Liverpool will face one of the group winners.

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