Napoli vs. Liverpool
- What: Champions League group C matchday two
- When: Wednesday 3 October
- Where: Stadio San Paolo, Naples, Italy
- Kick-off: 8pm (UK time)
- TV channel: live on BT Sport 3
Liverpool head to Italy tonight knowing that victory against Napoli will put them in firm control of Champions League group C.
Two weeks ago Jurgen Klopp’s side started their campaign with a superb 3-2 win against Paris Saint-Germain while Napoli drew 0-0 against Red Star Belgrade.
Tonight’s fixture at the Stadio San Paolo sees Reds boss Klopp go up against another experienced manager in Napoli’s Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian won the Premier League with Chelsea with 2010. He has also won the Champions League three times, twice with AC Milan and once with Real Madrid.
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The Daily Mail reported yesterday that Ancelotti “heaped praise” on Klopp’s Liverpool ahead of the group C encounter. He said: “Liverpool have improved a lot, they managed to reach the final last year and they started the season very well. I think they have become one of the strongest teams in Europe.
“They have a great physical condition, they play with intensity and so they manage to overcome the challenges of the Champions League.”
‘He’s a smart fox’
Klopp has dismissed Ancelotti’s words as “tactics”, the BBC reports. “I like Carlo Ancelotti,” said Klopp. “In Germany, we say he’s a smart fox. He’s said very positive things about us and nice things about me before a game. It’s nice, but it’s tactics. Carlo is so long in the business.”
Klopp knows his team are in for a “real battle” in Italy tonight and added: “I don’t care too much for what people say about us or how they see our situation. This is a fantastic manager, a fantastic team and an emotional crowd so that will be a real challenge.”
Team news and starting XIs
Klopp has named a 23-man squad for the trip to Naples. The German has confirmed that defender Virgil van Dijk is “fine” after he recovered from a rib injury to face Chelsea last weekend, while striker Divock Origi is fit and has travelled.
The BBC reports that Naby Keita, who was a sub against Chelsea, could come into the midfield. But Adam Lallana is out because of a groin problem.
Napoli have a 100% winning record so far this season at the Stadio San Paolo. Sky Sports reports that the Serie A side will be without injured duo Amin Younes and Vlad Chiriches.
Possible starting XIs
How the two teams could line up at the Stadio San Paolo, according to Goal.com.
- Napoli possible starting XI: Karnezis; Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Rui; Callejon, Allan, Hamsik, Zielinski; Insigne, Mertens
- Liverpool possible starting XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane
How to watch the match on TV
The Napoli vs. Liverpool clash will be shown live on BT Sport 3. Coverage starts at 7.15pm and the match kicks off at 8pm.
Champions League results, fixtures and TV guide
Last night’s results
Group E AEK Athens 2 Benfica 3 Bayern Munich 1 Ajax 1
Group F Hoffenheim 1 Manchester City 2 Lyon 2 Shakhtar Donetsk 2
Group G CSKA Moscow 1 Real Madrid 0 Roma 5 Viktoria Plzen 0
Group H Juventus 3 Young Boys 0 Manchester United 0 Valencia 0
Tonight’s fixtures (all times UK)
Group A Atletico Madrid vs. Club Brugge (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 3) Borussia Dortmund vs. Monaco (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 2)
Group B PSV Eindhoven vs. Inter Milan (8pm, live on BT Sport ESPN) Tottenham Hotspur vs. Barcelona (8pm, live on BT Sport 2)
Group C Paris Saint-Germain vs. Red Star Belgrade (5.55pm, live on BT Sport 1) Napoli vs. Liverpool (8pm, live on BT Sport 3)
Group D Lokomotiv Moscow vs. FC Schalke 04 (5.55pm, live on BT Sport ESPN) FC Porto vs. Galatasaray (8pm, live on BT Sport Extra 4)
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