Liverpool vs Napoli - Champions League (Group Game 6)

[Shaggy]

I think this will be the tipping point for Henderson. Klopp has always picked him / trusted him in the biggest games, but surely we keep the same three for this - Fab, Naby and Gini.

[Scratch]

I reckon he was rested on Saturday with this game in mind, but who knows with Klopp...we shall have to see...maybe Fab will drop out and it will be Gini and Hendo again.

It's just nice to have these dilemmas !

[Red_Polo]

Alisson
TAA Matip VVD Robbo
Milner Fabinho Keita
Salah Firmino Mane

I want Milner for this one, need his composure and resilience. Save Shaq as a bench option. More balance and reserving good options for changing things up with Keita starting.

[Saveloy]

Anyone else got a horrible feeling it'll be Henderson, Milner and Wijnaldum?

[The_weatherman]

Alisson
TAA Matip VVD Robbo
Milner Fabinho Keita
Salah Firmino Mane

I want Milner for this one, need his composure and resilience. Save Shaq as a bench option. More balance and reserving good options for changing things up with Keita starting.

I swing back and forth, wouldn't want to have to pick this side, but I think this is the one I would most like to see.

[baitman]

Anyone else got a horrible feeling it'll be Henderson, Milner and Wijnaldum?

Post that in the disgust thread

[Yozza]

Klopp's LFC injury update: Lovren, Lallana and Mane

Sadio Mane is available to return to Liverpool's starting line-up for Tuesday's Champions League tie with Napoli, while Dejan Lovren will be assessed before the game.

A foot injury sustained during the Merseyside derby caused Mane to miss last week’s trip to Burnley, before he came off the bench during the second half of Saturday’s 4-0 win over Bournemouth.

And Jürgen Klopp has confirmed that the forward can be ready to play from the start in the crunch meeting with Carlo Ancelotti’s side at Anfield.

The boss told Liverpoolfc.com: “Sadio can deal with the pain obviously – it looked like that in Bournemouth, so that’s cool. It’s good enough that we can consider him at least.

“We have two sessions still to come – we’ll train tomorrow morning as well. That’s very important. We have the meeting to do. In the squad there is nothing really serious after the game, that’s good.”

Lovren, who has been sidelined for the Reds’ last three matches, is due to train with the team later on Monday and will be assessed before a decision is made on his involvement on Tuesday.

“We will see how Dejan is doing,” added Klopp. “Yesterday he was out on the pitch and looked quite well. Can he be part of training today or not? We will see that. Squad-wise, [there is] no bad news at least.”

The manager also explained that Adam Lallana has felt no ill-effects from the head injury he suffered at Vitality Stadium: “He looked fine. Nobody told me differently. He was running yesterday.”

[Yozza]

Klopp: We've got a chance - and we'll do everything to use it

‘We have a chance and we will give everything to try and use it,’ was the message from Jürgen Klopp as Liverpool prepare for their must-win Champions League encounter with Napoli at Anfield.

The Reds head into the final game of Group C needing either a 1-0 victory or a triumph by two-clear goals in order to progress into the last 16 of the tournament.

Ahead of the game, Klopp faced the world’s media at Anfield for a pre-match press conference to preview the clash.

As well as tackling questions on the encounter with Napoli, the boss discussed the new long-term contract for Joe Gomez after it was announced on Monday morning the 21-year-old had committed his future to the club, and Liverpool’s position at the summit of the Premier League table.

Read on for a summary of what Klopp had to say…

On Joe Gomez’s new long-term LFC contract and his development…

Since I’ve been in, his development is incredible, to be honest. It was only a bit delayed because he was injured for England U21s when I came in, with a really serious injury. It took a while until he was back and then, how it always is, especially with young players, you need a bit of time to find all your natural strength and football skills back. Last year was already brilliant and this year was outstanding.

I’m pretty sure the future is bright for him. This injury is pretty much useless in the moment but we know how it is with a broken bone; in the moment when it’s not broken anymore it’s all fine again. That’s the cool part of it. He needs a bit of patience but then everything will be fine and he can go again.

I am really happy he made that decision, it is brilliant for us but also I think it is brilliant for him. It’s the right club – he loves the group, he loves the environment, he loves living here and all that stuff. So it is a smart decision for both sides.


On Liverpool wanting to right their previous wrongs in the group…

That’s how we see it. We knew after the Napoli game that was not good enough to get something there. Belgrade was not better. Paris was an absolutely OK away game; in the Champions League you can lose against PSG in their stadium. That can happen. We gave them a proper game but we lost it. So far at home we were good – we have to be even better tomorrow night. I told the boys, I really think if nothing special happens with referee decisions, we get tomorrow night what we deserve.

The only way to make that sure is to really perform at our highest level in the two big parts of the game: defensive and offensive. That makes it special. But we caused the situation and we are responsible in a good way and in a bad way. The group is a hard one; that was clear when we got the draw. Now we have the chance to go through and that is pretty special after the campaign we played so far. Now we have to create a special atmosphere with the way we play and we have to use it as well. I am really looking forward to it. It is a big opportunity for us and we will try everything to put it right.


On staying calm at the top of the Premier League…

We will not change. For us, there is no reason to. We can still read the calendar – it is December, it is not even Christmas. The season ends in May. We will not get carried away. We know how difficult it is. We knew how the Bournemouth game how difficult it was in that game. And the next [games] are coming. It is absolutely no problem. We are not the most experienced side but we know our way at least and that is exactly which way we will go all the time. But the league is not too important in the moment because we play tomorrow night against Napoli and the position in the table doesn’t help you too much.

We were confident before the other games as well, against Napoli and especially before Belgrade and that didn’t help. We have to make sure we are ready and it’s a big task. Napoli did so well last season with Maurizio Sarri and then such an experienced manager as Carlo Ancelotti coming in. In the summer when we played the pre-season friendly he was already full of praise about the club and the little changes he wanted to make. It is really tough after a very demanding coach like Sarri, making changes and keeping the players behind you, that they really want to do that after being successful. You can see the differences and it’s so good. They are doing really well in the league.

We know the result(s) we need and it’s quite difficult. Napoli are good in possession and good at counter-attacking as well. They are a typical Italian team, good in defending. That’s a big challenge but it’s football and if something special is possible, then it is here. That’s why we should try it.


On whether it’s more difficult to keep clean sheets in the Champions League than the Premier League…

If I say now it’s the quality of the Champions League, that’s only half the truth. I think there are a few teams in the Premier League who are stronger than, for example and with all my respect, Belgrade. They scored twice against us and they deserved these goals that night. So, it is just the competition. We always try to defend in the best way we can, but the quality of the opposing sides is not to ignore. If you think about the game Napoli played against us, it was actually the opposite of being brilliant from us, but they stayed on track and wanted to win it until the last second. A draw was not even in their mind, they wanted to win it. Maybe in another game, another team would have accepted the draw, but they didn’t. It is all about the quality of the opponents, for sure.

On whether he has thought about making tactical changes for the game…

We will make tactical changes and we will try to create an atmosphere that is special.


On whether he would have taken the situation of needing to win at Anfield to qualify when the draw was first made…

Yeah, that was from all the bad news of getting that group, the only good news was that we have the last game at home. It was not only in our hands that we have still the chance to go through, we know how difficult it will be and Napoli is for sure in a better position – they only need a draw or they can lose and are still through, but they deserved it. We need to be really happy about the chance we still have. If someone gives you a chance, it is all about you to use it. That’s exactly what we want to try. From that point of view, it is all good. Even Belgrade played a different role in the group than probably a lot of people would have expected – they did really well. That’s the group, that’s how it is, we have a chance and we will try everything to get that chance.


On whether he’s ever thought about managing in Italy after Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis revealed he tried he hire him when he was at Borussia Dortmund…

I still have a three-and-a-half-year contract, so I am not sure if anybody wants me after that! I like Italy, I like Italian food, unfortunately I don’t speak your language that well and I really think that’s cool. What I really like is that Mr De Laurentiis doesn’t hide with information, he is quite chatty! I don’t think I ever told anyone about that talk, but he mentions it from time to time. I think he is happy with all the choices he made in the past. Bringing in Maurizio Sarri was incredible and now having Carlo back is outstanding. I think they are really happy with the coaches they had and have – and in the moment, the people here are really happy with me as well, so we don’t have to think about changing anything.

[Yozza]

'We need you!' - Klopp's pre-Napoli rallying call

Jürgen Klopp has delivered a message to the supporters attending Liverpool's Champions League clash with Napoli on Tuesday night: 'We need you!'

The Reds head into their Group C finale against the Serie A side, who lead the section, knowing they must win to have a chance of reaching the last 16.

Everything is set for a dramatic occasion at Anfield and, ahead of the decisive tie, Klopp pledged his players will do everything possible to succeed – and explained how the fans can do their bit to help.

“I call Anfield: we need you,” the boss told Liverpoolfc.com.

“How we all know, the club is in a good moment and I really think we should, not celebrate it, but have it in our mind and use it for this game. It’s just a wonderful opportunity again for a really special thing.

“But we know it will be unbelievably difficult, that’s for sure. Can you ask for a special night before you have it?

“We know our responsibility; we have to put in everything we have. We know if we do that, people are easy to inspire and it could work out. But not only because we talk about it – we have to show it.”

[Yozza]

Van Dijk on Napoli clash, Gomez contract and topping the Premier League

Virgil van Dijk is confident that Liverpool can do what is necessary to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

The Reds go into Tuesday’s final Group C fixture knowing they must beat Napoli either 1-0 or by two clear goals to be certain of advancing from the pool.

A big European night is in store at Anfield, then, and - while acknowledging that their tricky situation is an issue of their own making, Van Dijk believes Jürgen Klopp’s team have what it takes to qualify.

During Monday’s pre-match press conference, the No.4 was also quizzed on topics including Joe Gomez’s new contract, which was signed earlier in the day, and the Reds’ position at the top of the Premier League.

Read on for a summary of what Van Dijk had to say…


On Gomez’s new deal…

First of all, [it’s] well deserved. I knew it already a couple of weeks ago but he is a great player, he’s been showing it for us, and he’s been showing it for England as well, and he can only get better and I am delighted he has signed a new deal.


On whether he had huge weeks like this in mind when joining the club…

For sure. You want to play at the highest level. Obviously you don’t want to be in the situation we could be in tomorrow where we could maybe get knocked out, but it is how it is and we are looking forward to it. We want to show them and show everyone in the world that we belong in the Champions League. We should be confident as well with the situation we are in now. We are doing very well in the league and we need to show it in the Champions League as well, and hopefully we can keep doing that after tomorrow.


On whether strong form in the Premier League goes hand in hand with the Champions League…

I think it’s going to be a very tough game. Like I said, we should be confident, we should be ready for tomorrow. We should be believing in ourselves that we can do it, we can progress. I am definitely confident in my team and the players, but we still need to show it.


On whether he is surprised that it has come to a situation where Liverpool must win their final group game to progress…

Well it’s our own fault that we are in this position, but we have a way to get out of this and we need to do it tomorrow. That’s the only way and that’s how it is.


On the difficulties the Reds faced during defeat in Belgrade on matchday four…

Obviously it was a tough game. It was a bad night for all of us, for all those who support Liverpool and for us as well. We were poor, we were obviously not like we had hoped for. It was a tough game but that’s how it is.


On whether being top of the Premier League will change the team’s approach domestically...

No, I don’t think so. I think it’s a totally different game tomorrow, it’s a different situation. It’s basically like a final for us - obviously we need to win and hopefully don’t concede and if we do, we need to win by a lot of goals, so that’s it. Obviously we should have confidence in our situation in the Premier League, but that’s the only thing, I think.


On whether the players acknowledged the fact they had gone top of the table after Saturday’s win at Bournemouth…

We didn’t speak about it too much together. Obviously you get messages, you see all these things on the internet and stuff so that’s the only thing. But we know that the season is very long – it could change next week, or in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully it doesn’t change, but you never know.


On how he feels physically, having started every Liverpool game bar one so far this season…

I feel amazing. If there’s a game you are going to be ready anyway, and in the profession that we do you need to do everything possible to get yourself ready and that’s what I’m doing. I play and then after the game it’s all about recovery: making sure you eat the right things and rest. It’s difficult but at the end of the day when you are out there on the pitch, you forget about these things.


On the danger of taking a gung-ho approach from the first whistle, given Napoli’s threat on the counter-attack…

It’s going to be a difficult game. That’s how they play but we need to play our game, we need to be ready to do what we’ve been doing almost the whole season. We have plenty of quality to score and we have plenty of quality to defend as well, but at the end of the day it’s all about showing it on the pitch. It is all about showing it on the pitch.

[baitman]

I believe the ref hates us

Damir skomina.

[Yozza]

I believe the ref hates us

Damir skomina.

Yeah well **** him & the horse he rides in on*

We are Liverpool





*Never heard of him but the sentiment still stands

[SB]

I think this will be the tipping point for Henderson. Klopp has always picked him / trusted him in the biggest games, but surely we keep the same three for this - Fab, Naby and Gini.

Surely? I hope your right though

[Rigadon]

Anyone else got a horrible feeling it'll be Henderson, Milner and Wijnaldum?

Hope not. All three are good players but as a unit it doesn’t work.

[Rigadon]

Hope to see Firmino playing through the middle. Think this game will be perfect for him.