Late goals from Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez earned Liverpool a 2-0 win over Napoli on Tuesday, but it wasn’t enough to deprive the Italians of top spot in Champions League Group A.
Both sides had already sealed a spot in the knockout stage, but first place in the group, and a potentially more favorable opponent in the round of 16, were still up for grabs, with Liverpool needing to beat Napoli by four or more goals to squeeze past towards the top.
The first half looked like a meeting where both teams’ main priority had been fulfilled, but the game came to life early in the second when Leo Ostigard thought he had put Napoli in front, only to have his header declared offside after a VAR check. .
With nothing to lose and top spot out of reach, Liverpool at least managed to clinch victory on the night, with Salah pushing home at the far post with five minutes remaining, before Nunez added a second in stoppage time.
Napoli’s 4-1 demolition of Liverpool in their September opener proved crucial in the end as they finished on 15 points, like Liverpool, but with a better goal difference in the clashes between both.
When the draw was made, few would have indicated Napoli would be group winners ahead of last season’s runners-up Liverpool, but Luciano Spalletti’s side have been in sensational form from the start of the campaign .
Napoli have traveled to England unbeaten in all competitions all season, having won their last 13 games in a row – a run that dates back to before their humiliation from Liverpool in September.
It took a more reserved approach from the start at Anfield, happy to sit back and invite pressure from the hosts.
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who had scored six goals in his previous four games in all competitions, should have done better from a good position in the first half before Liverpool contravened and Thiago Alcantara made a fine save. ‘Alex Meret in the away goal.
The game needed something to ignite it, and Napoli’s overturned opener did just that, with the Italians frustrated at how long it took to make the decision.
Liverpool kicked into high gear after that, with Nunez making a real difference when he came off the bench.
It was the Uruguayan whose header was saved before Salah stepped in, and he showed his poaching instincts to death to tap home, a goal awarded following another lengthy VAR review.
Salah has now scored 43 Champions League goals and is just one goal away from equaling Didier Drogba as the competition’s best African player.
