Liverpool vs Napoli 28/11/19

28 November 2019

Napoli travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool looking to erase the memory of their last UEFA Champions League (CL) trip to Merseyside that saw them miss out on the competition’s knockout phase.

The hosts are on the bring of clinching a place in the knockout stage after picking up three consecutive group wins following a 2-0 loss to Napoli in the reverse fixture. Curiously, all three of Liverpool’s Group E triumphs have seen them concede at least one goal and score in both halves. The reigning CL holders tend to break their rivals down in the early stages of the match, having broken the deadlock inside the opening 15 minutes in all three of their previous CL outings. Additionally, the Reds have won seven successive CL home matches in the build-up to this clash, netting 24 goals across those successes.

Even though they are the only unbeaten team in this group (W2, D2), the visitors have yet to secure a place in the knockout stage, but another win here will guarantee them progression from Group E. However, to do that, Gli Azzurri will have to defy a disastrous competitive record at Anfield (L3), with two of their last defeats here seeing them draw a blank. Moreover, Napoli have lost six of their eight trips to England (D2, L6) and have also managed just two wins in their last eight continental away games (W2, D3, L3). Still uncomfortable in the Champions League, Carlo Ancelotti’s men have won only six of their previous 18 matches in the competition (W6, D5, L7), although only one of those triumphs have come away from home.