Liverpool never looked quite ready for Napoli, and their Champions League opener was marked by poor performances throughout the squad.
[Diogo Jota](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/208133/diogo-jota) (Salah, 63"), 5 -- Jota found himself in positive areas but he was quickly crowded out by defenders. [Darwin Nunez](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/271788/Darwin-Núñez) (Firmino, 62"), 6 -- Nunez looked to make runs in behind to stretch the play, but Liverpool didn't find him in space enough. [Joel Matip](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/134659/joel-matip) (Gomez, 45"), 6 -- Introduced at the break for Joe Gomez but could have done more for Napoli's 4th goal. [Thiago](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/195354/Thiago) (Milner, 63"), 7 -- A return from injury from Thiago saw him add more control to Liverpool's midfield, a factor that was desperately needed after Napoli's continued success. [Arthur](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/314861/Arthur) (Elliott, 77") N/R -- Introduced for Elliott in the 77th minute in a Liverpool debut against familiar opposition for the on-loan Juventus midfielder, and he looked to enjoy his minutes playing alongside Thiago. Replaced at half-time for [Joel Matip](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/134659/Joël-Matip). [Virgil van Dijk](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/157892/Virgil-van-Dijk), 4 -- The Netherlands star has to do much more to help command Liverpool's defensive line as the most experienced player in the side. Napoli kept the Egypt international quiet overall, in a match where he struggled to make an impact from the right wing. His finish outside the box early in the second-half was excellent, while he then came close with a header that was well saved by Meret. A clearance off the line denied [Napoli](/soccer/team?id=114) in the first half, but he then conceded a penalty. [Joe Gomez](https://www.espn.com/soccer/player/_/id/102053/Joe-Gomez), 4 -- Nothing seemed to go right for Joe Gomez on the night who was caught in possession on a number of occasions, and in moments where he did make contact, the ball seemed to divert back into a dangerous area. The experienced midfielder was careless in possession, with many of his long balls easily dealt with by the Serie A side's defence.
Match report as Liverpool suffered their worst Champions League defeat; Napoli scored three-first half goals without reply; Giovanni Simeone netted on his ...
"In a Champions League game, you cannot be wide open like that, you have to be compact. "We have to play in three days against Wolves. Liverpool suffered the heaviest defeat by an English Premier League side in their opening game of a Champions League campaign since Arsenal lost 3-0 to Internazionale in 2003-04. "The next two goals we concede are handed to them on a plate. We were not working as a team. That is the first explanation for the defeat.
Alisson has been a fairly blameless figure so far this season, and even on a night this grim, the same applied. Barring one piece of indecision in the first ...
See also: [Joe Gomez](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/joe-gomez/) against Napoli in 2022. It’s all just a bit sad, isn’t it? Why is he still starting Milner? [Arthur](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/arthur/) (on for Elliott, 77′) – n/a Really struggled to get into the game. [Diogo Jota](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/diogo-jota/) (on for Salah, 62′) – 5 [Darwin Nunez](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/darwin-nunez/) (on for Firmino, 62′) – 5 The only positive performer from a terrible team performance. [Thiago](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/thiago/) (on for Milner, 62′) – 7 [Joel Matip](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/joel-matip/) (on for Gomez, 46′) – 6 [Dejan Lovren](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/dejan-lovren/) against [Tottenham](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/tottenham) in 2017? [Luis Diaz](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/luis-diaz/) woefully below par.
Liverpool reached the Champions League final last season. (CNN) From a Liverpool perspective, the biggest positive to take from the team's humiliating 4- ...
"It looks a little bit like we have to reinvent ourselves. "[It's] tough to take," the German told BT Sport. "I would say not that difficult to explain when you saw the game.
Victor Osimhen struck the woodwork seconds into a game that was only five minutes old when Piotr Zielinski converted a penalty awarded for James Milner's ...
Both teams had opportunities but the match was long since settled. It was a warning shot that the Reds failed to heed. Zielinski kept his cool, sending Alisson the wrong way. Diaz saw a thumping header saved by Alex Meret and Darwin Nunez – part of a second-half triple change – saw a shot blocked as the tempo slowed and Napoli began to tire. Liverpool temporarily quietened the home crowd when Diaz cut in and bent home a low right-footed shot in the 49th minute – a fine strike they attempted to build on. Fan safety in Naples had dominated the build-up to the Group A clash and the hardy Liverpool fans that made the trip walked into an extraordinary atmosphere that only improved as a wild first half unfolded.