Liverpool vs Napoli- Champions League (Group Game 5)

[Irishnev]

I just checked and if RB Salzberg win tonight and beat us they'd be on 10pts with a better GD so we need 2pts to be safe

Win tonight it is

Win tonight and we win the group- that has to be the aim. Then we can play the reserves away to Salzburg- any opportunity to rest players needs to be taken so we go 100% at this tonight

[memzey]

Proper banana skin tonight’s game. We really need to be on our game to get a result. Fingers crossed we squeak through.

[Fosterbloke]

We only need to draw don't we? Sometimes I wonder if we target 2nd place so that we get a tougher draw and can eliminate a big gun before they gain momentum

Yeah a point is enough. I think that will have a bearing on selection

Nope. We need a win to guarantee we win the group and go through.

A draw would mean we have to get at least a draw against RB and I'd prefer if we could rest a bunch of players knowing even a defeat wouldn't affect our status as group winners in any way

https://www.worldfootball.net/table_calculator/champions-league/

[Fosterbloke]

If RB draw or lose then we go through automatically

Shame they don't have an earlier kick off as we could simply knock it about knowing we're through!

[Mr Pink]

If RB draw or lose then we go through automatically

Shame they don't have an earlier kick off as we could simply knock it about knowing we're through!

Think we’d still be fighting tonight, to finish top.. It’s such a difference topping the group and getting a (relatively) handy game next

[frank the tank]

I might be wrong, but if we beat Napoli.....and then Red Bull beat our kids in 2 weeks time.....doesn't that put Napoli out of the Champions League?

Which is fine by me obviously......but you can just see it leading to Man City drawing Red Bull Salzburg in the next round and essentially getting a free pass into the quarter finals

[Assassin]

Let's just get it done early for a change!!!

[Fosterbloke]

Think we’d still be fighting tonight, to finish top.. It’s such a difference topping the group and getting a (relatively) handy game next

I don't think there are easier games, just less glamorous ones.

[Norbs]

3 out of 4 of last year's semi finalists were group stage runners up. Both finalists were

[Angryred]

I might be wrong, but if we beat Napoli.....and then Red Bull beat our kids in 2 weeks time.....doesn't that put Napoli out of the Champions League?

Which is fine by me obviously......but you can just see it leading to Man City drawing Red Bull Salzburg in the next round and essentially getting a free pass into the quarter finals

Free pass against Red Bull?...after the way they played?...most likely to cause them problems against their backline!

[dom9]

Think we’d still be fighting tonight, to finish top.. It’s such a difference topping the group and getting a (relatively) handy game next

Current potential opponents in round 2:

PSG (1st confirmed) / Real Madrid (2nd confirmed)
Bayern Munich (1st confirmed)
Shaktar Donetsk (2nd currently) / Dinamo Zagreb (3rd currently) / Atalanta (4th currently)
Juventus (1st confirmed) / A Madrid (2nd currently) / Leverkusen (3rd currently)
Barcelona (1st currently) / Dortmund (2nd currently) / Inter (3rd currently)
Liepzig (2nd currently) / Lyon (2nd currently) / Zenit (3rd currently) / Benfica (4th currently)
Ajax / Valencia (level on points with Chelsea)

[DeeTheDog]

Current potential opponents in round 2:

PSG (1st confirmed) / Real Madrid (2nd confirmed)
Bayern Munich (1st confirmed)
Shaktar Donetsk (2nd currently) / Dinamo Zagreb (3rd currently) / Atalanta (4th currently)
Juventus (1st confirmed) / A Madrid (2nd currently) / Leverkusen (3rd currently)
Barcelona (1st currently) / Dortmund (2nd currently) / Inter (3rd currently)
Liepzig (2nd currently) / Lyon (2nd currently) / Zenit (3rd currently) / Benfica (4th currently)
Ajax / Valencia (level on points with Chelsea)

Unlike some of the previous seasons there does seem to be an advantage in finishing top of the group as the all of elite teams are topping their respective groups.

[Liverpool]

Definite advantage this year. With the big teams kept apart for the last 16. Quarter finals onwards are going to be brutal.

[Mr Pink]

I don't think there are easier games, just less glamorous ones.

Ohhh ya that’s a good point... last year we came second and got Bayern.. city topped the group and got schalke..

I wouldn’t be afraid of getting any team in Europe, but to get into the quarters (or even the semis with a little luck) before drawing any of the giants, would give us a great chance of winning the thing again! Especially as we might have the league sewn up by then, if things continue the way they’re going!!

[frank the tank]

Either of the Madrids, Dortmund or Lyon would all be tricky second round opponents.

Nobody will want to play Liverpool though!!!