Liverpool may have their eyes set on the elusive Premier League title, but the tag of ‘The Champions of Europe’ is one they have every chance of retaining this season.
They got past a tricky test at Selhurst Park to keep their eight-point gap at the top of the points table. Jurgen Klopp’s side are back at Anfield on Wednesday where they welcome Napoli, one of the very few sides who they have lost to.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side were knocked out of this competition at Anfield last season, and will want to exact revenge. But the consistency of this Liverpool side will make them favourites to take all three points from this game.
Liverpool Team News
The manager revealed that he has no fresh injury concerns ahead of this game. Mohamed Salah is back in training, but Joel Matip and Nathaniel Clyne remain unavailable.
Here is the predicted lineup Klopp might field for this tie:
Predicted Liverpool Lineup vs Napoli
Defence
Alisson Becker has failed to keep a cleansheet in any of the games he has played for Liverpool this season. But this would be a good game for him to turn that around.
But, Alisson will need his centre back pairing of Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren to keep the likes of Dries Mertens in check in this game. The duo are expected to keep their place in the Liverpool lineup.
Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold will once again be key to Liverpool’s dominance at both ends of the field. Klopp might be tempted to rest the Scot who is just back from an injury, but has no quality name to replace him with.
It remains to be seen if he will deploy James Milner at left-back in the Liverpool lineup.
Midfield
Jordan Henderson did not last the whole game against Palace during the weekend and should start against Napoli. Fabinho is undroppable for Klopp at the moment and will start him in a no.6 role. The Brazilian will get a rest come the weekend as he will serve a one-game suspension for five yellow cards in the Premier League.
Georginio Wijnaldum could have a fight for his place in the Liverpool lineup this week. Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are knocking on the door, but the manager could stick with the Dutch international to add some stability to the midfield.
Attack
Salah was an unused sub against Palace and is now back in training. He should take his place in the right flank while Sadio Mane, who opened the scoring for his side in that game will be pushed back to the left flank.
Roberto Firmino’s winner gave Liverpool all three points at the weekend and will look to do something similar against the Italian side. Salah’s battle with Kalidou Koulibaly could potentially decide the outcome of this game.
Here is how they might line up:
