Liverpool v Napoli: Live matchday blog
Liverpool qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Napoli on Tuesday. Mohamed Salah's brilliant first-half goal was the difference at Anfield.
GROUP C - THE FINAL STANDINGS
The boss was a happy man after the game, too.
Watch his post-match press conference in full below...
We caught up with Virgil van Dijk immediately after the match and, unsurprisingly, the defender was full of praise for Alisson Becker.
Watch our exclusive interview in full below...
Liverpool qualify
The Reds will be in Monday's draw for the last 16 of the Champions League thanks in the main to Mohamed Salah's brilliant first-half goal and Alisson Becker's miraculous injury-time save.
It was tight and tense throughout, but Jürgen Klopp's side did what was necessary to ensure 'Napoli 2018' will go down as another famous European night at Anfield.
Stay right here for all the post-match reaction from the ground.
Full Time
IT'S ALL OVER - WE'RE THROUGH!!!
Mane shoots wide after going clean through...
Alisson Becker, that is OUTRAGEOUS.
Somehow, some way, Liverpool's goalkeeper has kept Milik out from point-blank range.
Incredible.
We're into four minutes of added time.
Substitution
Liverpool's third and final change sees Lovren come on for Alexander-Arnold, who took a knock a few minutes ago.
How has that stayed out?
Salah gets in down the left and unselfishly squares for Mane, but the No.10 side-foots his shot into the side-netting from close range.
Substitution
A second sub for the Reds.
Fabinho is on for Milner.
Wijnaldum does brilliantly to win a corner, and the No.5 then heads Alexander-Arnold's cross wide after Milner had taken the set-piece short.
Substitution
A first change for Liverpool, as Keita replaces Firmino.
Big, big chance for Napoli.
Robertson does just enough to put Callejon off and the forward shoots over from close range.
A let off.
A great save denies Mane!
A swift counter by the Reds ends with Robertson crossing to Mane, but his low shot back across Ospina is saved by the 'keeper
Zielinski blazes over following a good move down the left by the visitors, before Ospina gets a vital touch to the ball as Salah attempts to round him at the other.
Salah's cross is then palmed away by the 'keeper.
We're into the final 20 minutes, and Carlo Ancelotti has made three quick subs in a bid to get the goal his side need.
Milik, Zielinski and Ghoulam are all on for Napoli.
A well-struck half-volley by Henderson is saved by Ospina, and then Milner bursts from deep and curls an effort just wide.
The Reds are on top here.
Albiol gets up well to meet a Napoli corner, but Alisson gathers comfortably.
Liverpool race down the other end and Firmino's header from distance is straight at Ospina, before Van Dijk shoots wide from long range.
Chance!
Superb from Henderson, who wins the ball back high up the pitch and finds Firmino.
Firmino then feeds Salah, who shrugs off Rui but then shoots wide of the near post.
Liverpool win a couple of corners in quick succession at the start of the half, but they come to nothing.
Wijnaldum then volleys way off target following good link up between the front three.
Kick-Off
Napoli get us back under way.
A big 45 ahead...
Check out the story of that first half in stats below...
Half Time
There goes the half-time whistle.
It's been a fast-paced, high-quality match so far, and Salah's moment of individual brilliance - which had echoes of his stunning solo goal against Tottenham here last season - separates the sides.
As it stands, Liverpool are in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Chance for Napoli, but Fabian Ruiz drags his shot wide after a good move by the visitors.
World class.
Salah rolls Mario Rui with wonderful body strength, surges past Koulibaly in the box and somehow squeezes his shot in from an acute angle.
Get in!
Goal
SALAH!!!
Mane wins the ball back high up the pitch, enabling Henderson to try his luck from distance.
The captain's left-footed shot goes wide, though.
Strong appeals for a penalty from the home fans as Koulibaly tackles Salah in the area, but replays show the defender won the ball cleanly.
Disallowed Goal
A lovely move by the Reds is rounded off by Mane finishing Alexander-Arnold's cross, but the flag is up.
That first 20 minutes absolutely flew by.
No breakthrough as yet, but both teams have shown plenty of attacking intent from the off.
Yellow Card
Van Dijk is booked for a challenge on Mertens.
The No.4 won the ball but caught the forward with his follow-through, and that caution means he will miss Liverpool's next European match through suspension.
Close!
Milner gets up at the far post to meet Alexander-Arnold's cross with a firm header, which clears the bar.
That was superb from Liverpool.
A sweeping counter-attack after a spell of Napoli pressure ends with Robertson feeding Salah in the area, but the No.11's touch is heavy and allows Ospina to gather.
Then, at the other end, Hamsik side-foots over the bar from the edge of the box.
It's been a lively start from both sides here, but neither 'keeper has been tested yet.
Liverpool have lined up with a 4-3-3 formation, with Salah on the right of the front three, Firmino central and Mane on the left.
That worked pretty well in Europe last season...
The Reds - attacking the Anfield Road end in the first half - get us underway.
Wow.
'Spine-tingling' is the only way to describe that rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone.
We've certainly got a 'big European night' atmosphere at Anfield!
Listen live
As for every Liverpool game, our free commentary service is available tonight - hear all of the sounds from a big night at Anfield as Steve Hunter and Reds legend John Aldridge call the action.
Just click here to listen live.
Happy half-century
Andy Robertson makes his 50th appearance for Liverpool tonight.
Behind the red door...
The formations
Opta expect the teams to line up like this...
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool make three changes for this evening's game as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane replace Fabinho, Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri from the starting XI deployed at Bournemouth on Saturday.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Mane, Salah, Firmino.
Subs: Mignolet, Fabinho, Lovren, Keita, Sturridge, Shaqiri, Origi.
Team news imminent...
Napoli have confirmed their line-up for tonight - as you can see below. Liverpool's XI and substitutes will be revealed right here at 6.45pm GMT.
Those night-time Anfield lights...
Ready
What are the odds?
BetVictor has the answer...
Liverpool - 8/13
Draw - 33/10
Napoli - 9/2
Click here for more details and match prices.
Our last home game in the Champions League went pretty well...
Weather
Go on, admit it. You thought we'd forgotten, didn't you?
As if!
In short, it's a chilly afternoon here in Liverpool - and the thermometer is set to drop further, with the 'feels like' temperature at kick-off time forecast to be around four degrees.
Rain isn't expected, but a big coat is a must if you're coming to Anfield tonight!
Job done!
Liverpool's U19s are through to the last 16 of the UEFA Youth League thanks to a resounding 5-0 win over Napoli this afternoon.
Paul Glatzel, Curtis Jones and Bobby Duncan scored in the second half, adding to goals before half-time by Rafael Camacho and Liam Millar.
Brilliant, lads!
Another hat-trick tonight would be great, Mo!
'They really make a difference'
Fabinho has had a few months to take in the atmosphere of Anfield and, in fact, knew a little about it even before he made the move to Liverpool from AS Monaco last summer.
And the Brazilian expects the home crowd to be influential again tonight.
"I remember once with the national team, Philippe Coutinho was talking about the exceptional Liverpool fans," the No.3 told Liverpoolfc.com.
"But now that I'm living it week in and week out, the atmosphere in the stadium, the reaction of the fans to every victory - you can see how fanatical the supporters are and how much they love their team. They really make a difference.
"At the start of the season when I wasn't playing as much and I was on the bench, especially in the first game, I was looking around the stadium all the time at the way the fans were reacting and I was really impressed by it all.
"The first Champions League night against PSG was amazing. The fans put on a show at every home game and it gives us an extra push when we play at Anfield."
So far, so good
Half-time in the Youth League meeting and Liverpool U19s are on course to achieve qualification - goals from Rafael Camacho and Liam Millar have them 2-0 up.
Stat attack
Key facts and figures ahead of kick-off...
- Liverpool have lost only one of their last 23 European home games and none of the past 18 (13 wins, five draws)
- These sides have faced each other at Anfield once before - Steven Gerrard's hat-trick as a substitute gave the Reds a 3-1 Europa League win in 2010-11
- Roberto Firmino has played in every one of Liverpool's 33 European games under Klopp
- Napoli boss Ancelotti has managed against the Reds nine times, winning six and losing three
Six Reds in running for UEFA Team of the Year
Tonight's match is the last of an eventful calendar year in the Champions League for Liverpool, who of course finished runners-up in the 2017-18 edition.
And half-a-dozen members of Klopp's squad have been shortlisted for the UEFA Team of the Year...
Beat the queues at Anfield
Download the SeatServe app and beat the half-time queues by pre-ordering food and drink for collection or delivery to your seat at Anfield tonight.
Just get the app and use your smartphone to make a purchase; you can even do it before you leave for the game.
Please note, delivery within the stadium is subject to availability and only applies to the first five seats from the aisle.
Did you know?
Andy Robertson will make his 50th appearance for Liverpool if he features against Napoli.
14 years ago
Will someone emulate Neil Mellor tonight?
First up...
Liverpool U19s have work to do against Napoli today as well; the young Reds need a win to guarantee progress to the UEFA Youth League knockout stages and avoid the play-offs.
They have just got under way - and here's how they line up...
Team news
Sadio Mane is available to start for Liverpool after a substitute appearance at Bournemouth following a foot injury, while Dejan Lovren trained with his teammates on Monday.
Adam Lallana is also fine but Joe Gomez has joined Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Rhian Brewster on the Reds' longer-term injury list.
Napoli arrive on Merseyside at almost full strength, with only Vlad Chiriches and Simone Verdi ruled out.
"We'll try to maintain a high level of intensity for as long as possible," said Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti. "We haven't come here to sit back."
Klopp: We'll just go for the best result
So, how do Liverpool approach this task? For the manager, it's a case of blocking out any talk of permutations...
"We should ignore all the rest around and try to get the best result we can get," he told Liverpoolfc.com. "We always go for a clean sheet, we never want to concede goals - so that's not a big difference.
"We have to defend them with all we have, we have to defend them much better than we did in Naples. And we have to play better; that's easy because that was our worst game of the season. So we will be better, I'm pretty sure - not only because of us but because of the atmosphere as well.
"We need Anfield, we need a special atmosphere. I really think the boys deserve that. Everybody here knows how big the influence can be and that could be an advantage. If it's enough, we'll know after the game."
Melwood preparations
Liverpool then trained at Melwood on Monday afternoon, their penultimate session before the clash with Napoli. Take a look at their workout with our pictures below...
Meeting the media
Jürgen Klopp and Virgil van Dijk spoke to the assembled press inside Anfield on Monday to preview this tie and assess the threats posed by Napoli.
See everything the manager and No.4 had to say below.
It's a sell-out
Tonight's match is officially sold out. Supporters are advised not to travel to Anfield if you are not in possession of a ticket.
10 of the best
And speaking of unforgettable European nights at Anfield, we took on the tricky task of choosing a top 10. Click here to check out our list and while away a few more minutes in the countdown to kick-off.
Another special night in store?
This Liverpool side doesn't have to look too far back for inspiration, of course...
Permutations
So, here are the key details ahead of kick-off...
- Liverpool will secure progress to the last 16 if they overcome Napoli either with a 1-0 win or by a cushion of two goals or more
- The Reds could also qualify - and potentially top the group - with a win over Napoli by any scoreline if PSG were to lose or draw in their final fixture, away to Red Star Belgrade
- A draw or defeat at Anfield would mean elimination for the Reds. The third-placed team in the section will assume a place in the Europa League Round of 32
Welcome
... how are the nerves, then?
Liverpool's Champions League ambitions rest on one game, the visit of Group C leaders Napoli to Anfield this evening. The maths is simple, the task not so much. But the Reds know they must win to have any chance of progressing to the knockout stages.
Stay right here with us throughout the day and into the night for build-up, confirmed team news, photos, stats, live game updates, reaction and much more.
