Napoli is back. Anfield's vibrant challenge says that Ancelotti's team, beyond the results, found itself again. Now it will have to give a sense of continuity in the league, where the performance was decidedly negative. Stimulated by the European champions, the Azzurri appeared to be a compact group, capable of striking at the start and suffering in the final when the Reds accelerated as only they know how to do, in their splendid stadium. The peer proved to be highly prestigious and brought Naples closer to the round of 16: it will only be necessary to draw at home with Genk in two weeks.

WHAT A START - Klopp renounces his source of play from the right Alexander-Arnold, deploying Gomez, while in the middle he chooses the more experienced Milner leaving out the Dutch Wijnaldum. Ancelotti opts for a new lineup, more covered for the defensive phase. With Maksimovic right-back blocked and in front of him Di Lorenzo, more advanced. The simultaneous absence of Captain Insigne and his deputy Callejon leads to having to choose and the band is entrusted to Koulibaly and this is also a signal given that as seniority of attendance it would have fallen to Mertens. A strong start, with very high pressing at Liverpool, some initial difficulties for the Azzurri, who soon found the squad. On the right, the unpublished couple with Maksimovic attentive to Mané and Di Lorenzo ready to take away space from a slightly too nervous Robertson. And the former Empoli fullback steals a nice ball, throwing Mertens on the offside. The engagement of the Belgian is perfect, the race towards Alisson does not allow recoveries but the position is decentralized and the Brazilian goalkeeper covers well. But Dries lets a right diagonal start which is a perfect pool shot that silences Anfield. It also affects the non-exultation, no ballets or races: the team hugs tightly around the goleador (117 goals at Napoli, just 5 from the top scorer of Hamsik). The two thousand Neapolitans present exult.

NO EMOTIONS - Liverpool try to react but despite a monstrous possession in the first half (70%), the trident of the Mané-Firmino-Salah dreams remains too crushed, because the Napoli leaves no depth and covers the passage lines well. So much so that the best situations are always for Napoli, with Lozano losing the fleeting moment to close two triangles at speed, first with Mertens and then with Zielinski. The first conclusion of the European champions comes with a header from Van Dijk, on a free kick, easily saved by Meret, who at the end closes well at the near post on Milner's shot, slalom party.

GEAR CHANGE - Klopp manages to jibe with the second gear. When with Oxlade Chamberlain, instead of one off Gomez, asking Henderson for the sacrifice of playing fullback. Now Liverpool finds intensity and conviction, Koulibaly saves on the line (Mané's shot) for a wrong high Meret exit. It is the prelude to the goal that arrives from Milner's corner, with Lovren dominating Mertens from the head and not forgiving. Napoli suffers but grits its teeth. Alexander-Arnold also enters to give even more thrust. Ancelotti replaces the points with Llorente and Elmas, covering himself more and managing to resist the end of a great team. Applause for all.