Liverpool travel to Italy to face Napoli on Wednesday evening in what is the opening tie of their Champions League group stage campaign.
The Reds failed at the final hurdle last year, losing 1-0 to Real Madrid in the final. This should motivate Jurgen Klopp and co. to go one step further this term and lift the Champions League trophy.
Having endured a slow start in the Premier League, Klopp will want his boys to make a comparatively stronger start to life in Europe.
Liverpool have been plagued by injuries during the opening weeks of the season. Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ibrahima Konate and Calvin Ramsay are all out injured, while Fabio Carvalho is a doubt after suffering a dead leg in the Merseyside derby on Saturday.
The deadline-day signing of Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus will give Jurgen Klopp some much-needed cover in midfield ahead of a busy run of fixtures.
Goalkeeper
Alisson Becker is a certain starter in goal, and the Brazilian will be raring to start the Champions League campaign with a clean sheet against Napoli.
Defence
The Liverpool backline has looked shaky since the start of the new Premier League season. While a clean sheet against Everton on Saturday would’ve helped, Klopp will want his defenders to improve and start delivering the goods on a consistent basis.
Virgil van Dijk, especially, hasn’t lived up to the high standards he has set in the last few years and he must step up his game starting from the fixture in Naples. The return of Joel Matip from injury is a big boost to the Reds, one which will also give Van Dijk the assurance he needs besides him to play with more freedom.
Van Dijk and Matip will start as a pair in central defence in the Liverpool lineup, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson operating from their natural full-back positions.
Midfield
Injuries to Thiago, Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson, and a big doubt in Fabio Carvalho means James Milner is likely to receive a start in the middle of the park in the Liverpool lineup. Milner’s wealth of experience and leadership skills will be vital on such a big Champions League night.
The veteran Englishman will line up alongside Fabinho and Harvey Elliot in the Liverpool engine room. Arthur Melo will be a solid midfield option to have on the bench.
Attack
A substandard showing from the returning Darwin Nunez in the Merseyside derby could see Klopp start Roberto Firmino as a false 9 against Napoli. Firmino has got some confidence back in the last couple of weeks and did make an impact after coming off the bench against Everton at the weekend, so there is every chance of the Brazilian leading the Liverpool lineup in Naples.
Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz will retain their places on the flanks, looking to exploit spaces in behind the Napoli full-backs. Diogo Jota could be introduced from the bench if required.
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