2020SL1 MD13 #1 Liverpool v #13 Napoli

Super League MD13

MD13 – [1] LIVERPOOL V. [13] NAPOLI [4-1]
ALL TIME RECORD: NAPOLI 8G 5W-2L-1D; 14-12 GF/GA

LIV – Mohamed Salah [8] 16’
LIV – Roberto Firmino [7] 55’
NAP – Hirving Lozano [2] 65’
LIV – Sadio Mane [4] 68’
LIV – Diogo Jota [4] 71’
NAP – Kostas Manolas YC 40’
NAP – Diego Demme YC 82’

Back at the top, Liverpool return to Anfield this sunny afternoon to welcome Napoli, a match they cannot afford to drop. Historically, Napoli own this contest, 16 points to 7, though the differential is pretty tight at +2 Napoli, motivation is wherever you find it.

Liverpool were certainly motivated today, their attack began with the opening whistle, a relentless assault upon the Napoli goal, with no counter-attack being allowed to develop. The first goal came in the 16th, Mo Salah finishing an excellent give-and-go with Fabinho, drove home his 8th of the season to bring the Anfield crowd to life.

Credit Napoli for denying any further damage in the 1st half, it took some desperate defending, but into the 2nd, they had large stymied the Liverpool attack.

“Keeping them quiet is called a fortunate set of circumstances.” Indeed, prolific weapons are hard to shut down for ninety minutes, in the 55th Roberto Firmino made it 2-0 Liverpool with a sharp move to break free of the defense deep in the Napoli box and a clean blast from 10 yards.

It looked like the Liverpool Victory Party was back on, the only question being the final tally, but Napoli had a twist for our Saturday afternoon. Hirving Lozano, having a quiet season thus far, pulled one back for Napoli in the 65th, a volley after a lofted pass from Mertens set him up perfectly.

Liverpool would respond right away, 3 minutes later, Sadio Mane negated Lozano’s goal and 3 minutes after that, Diogo Jota, his first not in extra-time goal, settled the match for good, 4-1 Liverpool in the 71st as the rest of the afternoon unfolded quietly.

For Liverpool, they needed to take care of business and did so quite well today, they now get ready for their big date at Turin next week against Juventus, a titanic match slated for Saturday night.

Napoli probably should not have expected anything different, their first and only break was the Lozano goal, which Liverpool rather quickly snuffed out. They will have to reset somewhere friendlier and more accommodating to better results, they get Chelsea at home next week so that could do it.

MD14: Liverpool at Juventus; Napoli host Chelsea