Napoli vs Liverpool: Here are the five players who could change the game on their own on Tuesday.
Napoli will invite Liverpool during the opening day of the Champions League campaign this year. The Italian side and English side have made good starts to their domestic league campaigns this season and enter into this game with much-needed momentum.
When these two sides played out in Naples last season, the hosts were the victors. They clinched a stoppage-time winner through their Skipper Lorenzo Insigne to take all three points home. Both the sides have not made major changes in the summer transfer window – meaning that it could be a compelling contest.
The Reds do not have Alisson Becker because of a calf injury, while the Italian side will be without their striker Arkadiusz Milik. The Napoli forward came closer to kick out Liverpool in the stoppage time when he found himself in an abundance of space, but Alisson rushed down the spot to narrow the angle to save Liverpool’s day. It helped them win the Champions League in June.
There are plenty of individual talents filled in Liverpool and Napoli squad. Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti boast players who are currently one of the world’s best.
As we discuss, we have analyzed and listed down five players whose presence could change the game in this breathtaking fixture.
#5 Fabian Ruiz (Napoli)
Spaniard Fabian Ruiz hangs on his fringes in the central midfielder or central attacking midfield position. The young midfielder has an abundance of pace and tenacity to beat defenders to cause problems to the opponents.
Above and over to his energy, the former Real Betis midfielder can get involved in the attack or sit back with the defence and dictate the game. He has played in two different positions this season as Carlo Ancelotti has utilized a couple of formations in the Serie A this season.
Since Liverpool plays a high line and Napoli attackers have breakneck pace, his defensive-splitting passes can come handy. He also has the capability to blast from outside the box and notch up numbers. The 23-year-old is one of the best young talents in world football and can stamp his authority in the greatest European club competition.
#4 Joe Gomez
Jurgen Klopp has a history of the repository by adopting defensive methodologies against top opponents. The German International has done it before, which has seen Joe Gomez operate as a right-back.
The English International lastly played through the full-back position during the first-leg defeat to Barcelona last season and played catch up to his opponents. In the opening stages of the new season, the 22-year-old has looked out of the groove by lacking the regular sharpness against Manchester City and Norwich City. He has failed to start a game ever since then.
With Chelsea fixture in eyesight, Klopp will utilize Joe Gomez through the right defensive flank. He will probably face Lorenzo Insigne, who had an extraordinary game and won the man of the match award in the reverse fixture last season. The Italian has been in dazzling form this season with two goals and two assists from three games this campaign. Gomez has to be aware of his run to chop down the leakage of goals in this game.
#3 Sadio Mane (Liverpool)
Sadio Mane is Liverpool’s top scorer since the turn of the New Year. The Senegalese International kicked off from where he left last season with six goals and one assist from seven appearances, including a brace against Chelsea in the Super Cup this season.
The former Southampton attacker terrorized Kevin Malcuit last time, but the right-back has sat on the bench thus far this season. The 26-year-old Giovani Di Lorenzo moved to Naples this summer and has been impressive. He has a perfect balance in the defensive and offensive department. Sadio Mane could have a task to cut out and will be hoping to displace Lorenzo out of position to make plenty of runs behind their defence.
The Liverpool forward’s finishing has improved over the last year. He has been devastating when he finds pockets of space in between the defensive line by feeding his teammates or finding the back of the net.
#2 Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli)
Lorenzo Insigne found the back of the net when these two sides met each other in Naples last season. The Italian International scored a tap-in in the stoppage time to secure all three points. However, those three did not benefit as they were kicked out in the group stages by Liverpool away from home.
The 28-year-old has been told to shuffle across the front line this season. Despite playing through two positions, the Skipper has two goals and two assists this season. It has been an eventful start for Insigne, who played a crucial part in Napoli’s victory last year. He constantly gave trouble to Trent Alexander-Arnold in the previous game, but he could face Joe Gomez this season. If the English International fails to be on his heels throughout the whole game, Insigne could singlehandedly cause wreck to his opposition.
One of Gini Wijnaldum or Jordan Henderson will be told to mark the forward, who likes to make plenty of runs behind opponent’s defence. If Insigne prevails, Liverpool could be in deep trouble.
#1 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
Mohamed Salah looked isolated for most parts of the game against Newcastle on Saturday but managed to find the back of the net. It was an outrageous piece of skill from Roberto Firmino, but the Egyptian still had a lot to do before seeing the net bulge for the fourth time in the Premier League this season.
If the 27-year-old is provided with space, there’s a chance of severe destruction to his opponents. He has struggled when opponents shrug him with their physicality, but Salah has increased his physicality – making it tougher for the opponents to pinch the ball off him. Faouzi Ghoulam was rested in weekend and is the first-choice right-back under Carlo Ancelotti.
The Algerian does not have pace like Mohamed Salah, but is adept in doing simpler things which pays off. Salah will have to be clinical and take his chance which comes his way on Tuesday. He can singlehandedly cause damage if he finds his rhythm.
