MatchLiverpool v Napoli: Team news
Jürgen Klopp has several selection decisions to consider for Liverpool's Champions League encounter with Napoli.
The Reds host the Serie A leaders on the final matchday of the group stage, with both teams already through to the last 16 and Klopp’s men requiring a win by four goals or more to snatch top spot.
Speaking on Monday, the boss revealed there are ‘a couple of knocks here and there’ following the weekend defeat against Leeds United in the Premier League.
The clash at Anfield also comes too soon for Joel Matip.
“Obviously we qualified last week against Ajax, which was extremely good and extremely helpful. But we had, even when we lost it, a pretty intense game against Leeds and now we have to see,” Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com.
“So yesterday [Sunday] was recovery, we heard already a couple of knocks here and there – nothing serious but we will see.”
He added: “We have to wait a little bit but then in the moment when we know who is ready, then we will make sure that these boys are ready for a proper fight.”
The manager was able to report positive news on both Ibrahima Konate and Calvin Ramsay, with the defensive pair in contention for minutes in the 8pm GMT kick-off.
“We will see. Ibou, I think there’s a good chance that he will have a game,” said Klopp.
“And with Calvin, we have to see. That makes now no sense if we have to change a lot of players to bring Calvin in for his first senior [appearance]. Coming on, yeah, for sure – these kind of things should be possible.”
Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are ineligible in the group stage, while Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Arthur Melo are sidelined due to injuries.
Jürgen Klopp's update on Ibrahima Konate
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Meanwhile, Napoli have brought over a 23-man squad to Merseyside but it does not contain the injured Amir Rrahmani.
Luciano Spalletti’s side have recorded five wins from five up to this point in Group A, with the Napoli head coach detailing what’s required from his players on matchday six at a pre-match press conference.
He told reporters: “I will send my players out there to play and, to be honest with you, even if they lose the ball, lose the tackles, what I won’t allow them to do, what I don’t want to see happen, is see them not playing, not going in for tackles.
“They have to play well, with a calm head. There might well be moments when we have to try to resist their qualities and fight against them.
“[But] each and every time I want to see our players try to win the ball back and play with the same approach we have played with thus far. By playing our game, that’s how we’ll get the best possible result.”
Last match
Liverpool 1-2 Leeds United (October 29): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Thiago, Elliott, Salah, Firmino, Nunez.
Napoli 4-0 Sassuolo (October 29): Meret, Di Lorenzo, Jesus, Kim, Rui, Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski, Lozano, Kvaratskhelia, Osimhen.
This article has been automatically translated and, while all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, some errors in translation are possible. Please refer to the original English-language version of the article for the official version.