Who: Napoli
When: Wednesday 7th September, 20:00 BST..
Where: STADIO DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA
Liverpool kick off their Champions League campaign against a familiar opponent in Napoli..
UEFA.. THE FA & The Paris Final:
In what is our first game back in the Champions League after the outrageous scenes in Paris this tournament leaves a massively sour taste in the mouth.. Sure we want to get excited for the PREMIER TOURNAMENT in European Football.. Ran by the multi billion pound franchise UEFA..
Yet it's extremely difficult. Only yesterday I was reading that Liverpool fans have launched their own lawsuits to gain compensation for the debacle.. 1200 have already signed up and this could rise to 3000 plus.. This is shocking in itself.. When you evaluate the reasons it shocks you even more..
We all know about the treatment to trying to get TO the ground and then IN the ground by the TEAR GASSING Police & Officials but add CRUSHING, BEATINGS, ROBBERY, STABBINGS & SEXUAL ASSAULT..
I don't really need to write anymore do I.. The night was an absolute disgrace.. The result is a farce too.. The scars will run deep for many..
Add to this the corrupt and scandalous FA & their VAR decisions that have blighted the Premier League itself this and countless other seasons you can see that football as we know it is in very frightening hands..
So we win.. We top the group and get to another final.. We are going to have to be perfect from start to finish because as we and others know if UEFA want Real Madrid to win it.. Then they will..
UEFA is investigating, but has apologised. Paris police boss Didier Lallement has admitted "failures". All of which took time to come after previously blaming our fans for the problems..
Napoli v Liverpool:
The game promises to be an excellent prospect as they have done over the years against them..
If you wanted to ease through the group stages with a few nice away games then you'll be disappointed.. They don't come tougher than Napoli away.. Add to this Glasgow Rangers & Ajax and its gonna be a spicy few trips on the road..
The atmosphere in each will be electric and all of them are gonna come out and play.. Well and truly on the front foot.. Proper football matches old school style..
Napoli:
What do you get from the Italians.. Well for a start they have lost quite a few star names. Insigne, Koulibaly, Hamsik & Mertens to name but a few.. Yet they will come out and have a real go at us..
Two players who have stood out this season for me are Lozano.. Raw pace and attacking ability.. And the very impressive Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.. Think Adam Lallana on acid..
They set up in a strong 4-5-1 formation which can obviously change to 4-3-3 in game but defensively the former.. Mario Rui we know at left back and Zielinski in midfield.. The rest are relatively unknown to us (though FIFA gamers will know them)..
Injuries.. Not a lot to report yet the striker Osimhen who is a real threat will face a late fitness test after limping off late on against Lazio last time out..
Liverpool Team Sheet:
Again we have to go in pretty strong for this one..
Ali, Joe, Matip, Virg, Robbo, Fabs, Arthur, Bobby, Mo, Nunez, Diaz
Thiago is back in training.. Arthur has trained too.. All other injuries are still out Hendo, Konate, Kelleher, Keita & The Ox.. Carvalho faces a late fitness test..
Prediction:
Napoli are far from the team that we are used to facing.. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is a real threat and you don't want him shooting from anywhere.. They like to press.. Yet from what I have briefly seen they are not too good at it..
We can easily get through that press and get at their back line.. The only concern here is that we are not firing at ripping teams apart in these situations as yet.. Still you wouldn't rule that out..
As with Everton last time out it will be an excellent atmosphere and a high tempo game.. But we are much the stronger team and should come through it relatively unscathed if we approach it in the right way.. Mark Lozano & Kvaratskhelia out the game and life will be a load easier..
Sooner or later our front 3 will click. Our forward line is very much in transition let's not forget that. As a striker you need to get these understandings with your strike partners..
I see this as a short term fix.. They should and will rip teams apart very soon. They need to show more to receive the ball.. Protect it better.. Raise the tempo. Play quicker passes to each other and finally f***ing smash that ball in the back of the net.. No messing about..
2-1 To Them Mighty Reds
Sign up to OurLFC a site for approved Liverpool fans only. You can also follow us on all our social media platforms in the links at the bottom of the page