Napoli‘s winning run, does it end today as Liverpool host the Serie A league leaders in their final group-stage match of the 2022/23 campaign?
Liverpool, like Napoli in the 2021/22 season, have been unpredictable this term. One day, you would find them outsmarting teams like Manchester City. On another day, they would lose to Nottingham Forest and Leeds United—the teams dominating the bottom half of the Premier League points table this season so far.
The Naples-based side has remained unbeaten across all competitions since the start of the 2022/23 season. In the domestic league, they have drawn only once and are currently leading the race for this season’s Scudetto by five points. Although the Partenopei have qualified for the knock-out stages in the Champions League, the aim for Luciano Spalletti’s team will be to end the group-stage round with a dominating performance against Jürgen Klopp’s men.
Results in the last five matches across all competitions
Liverpool: W-W-L-W-L
Napoli: W-W-W-W-W
Team News
Liverpool have a long list of absentees. Klopp will be missing Naby Keïta (hamstring), Luis DÃaz (knee), and Diogo Jota (calf) due to their respective injury issues. Arthur Melo underwent surgery to fix his thigh injury in October. On loan from Juventus, the Brazilian is unlikely to make his return to action before 2023.
As for Napoli, goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu and defender Amir Rrahmani should miss the game against the Premier League side. Reports from Italy understand that despite Napoli securing a spot in the round of 16, Spalletti will field a decent side on Tuesday evening.
Liverpool predicted XI vs Napoli
Alisson; Alexander Arnold, Konatè, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Milner, Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara; Salah, Nunez, Carvalho
Napoli predicted XI vs Liverpool
Meret; Di Lorenzo, Kim, Ostigard, Olivera; Ndombele, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia.
GIFN | Jyotirmoy Halder