Bundesliga
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At the very end, there was another action that made Liverpool dangerous. However, this moment was also typical for the Reds 1-1 draw against SSC Napoli: captain Jordan Henderson kicked the ball into the box from the right, but the cross was too long, flying past Sadio Mané. Shortly thereafter, full-back Andrew Robertson checked an opponent over the advertising board. It came to pack formation, the game flow was gone.
One way or the other, it was a frustrating evening from Liverpool's point of view. A mixture of inaccuracies and Nickligkeiten contributed to the fact that the Champions League winner missed the early knockout round of the first qualifier and in the final round game on 10 December in Salzburg (18.55 clock, SPIEGEL liveticker) is likely to allow no defeat. "The situation is not brilliant, but it is okay," said coach Jürgen Klopp after his 100th appearance in the European Cup.
Against Carlo Ancelottis Naples, which is in the clinch with itself after a mutiny of the team against President Aurelio De Laurentiis, continued a pattern that was observed at Liverpool in recent weeks. The team often played only moderately, they lacked the sharpness. In the Premier League she won against opponents such as Sheffield United, Aston Villa or last Crystal Palace only thanks to later goals. With this perseverance, she gained a comfortable lead at the top of the table and - even if the race is still a very long time - on master class. Against Naples, however, the method reached its limits. More than the equalizer by Dejan Lovren in the 65th minute brought Liverpool not.
Storm trio tired, defense wobbly
At the moment the team is struggling to play favorites football. She often deals with counterparties who defend deeply and discipline. Because the space behind the opposing defense is missing, counterpress and raid attacks are ineffective. Instead, Liverpool must laboriously work his way through the thicket of opposing defensive legs. That's hard for the team. The attack lacks pace and precision. The notorious storm trio seems partially drained, because Klopp has hardly any possibilities to rotate in the offensive.
In the league, the full-back Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold have long become the playmaker duo with their advances and crossings. This makes the team more varied. Against Naples Klopp had robbed his team of this strength, because he sparing Alexander-Arnold and late came. The coach had to say afterwards that Liverpool "often flanked too early". The result was that the ball landed again and again in the gloves of Naples goalkeeper Alex Meret.
Oli SCARFF / AFP
Jürgen Klopp watches the game of his team in the background
Another Liverpool problem right now is the loss of immaculate defense. The team has been waiting for a match without conceding for eleven competitive matches. Such a bad run the club last in 1998. Overall, Liverpool conceded more goals than in the preseason. Possible reasons for this are the personnel changes on the defensive. Goalkeeper Alisson injured at the start of the season and dropped out for two months. Virgil Van Dijk has in the center of defense times Joe Gomez, sometimes Joel Matip and Lovren right now. Also, the defense is higher this season. This makes them susceptible to long balls behind the last row. So Naples also fell 1: 0 by Dries Mertens in the 21st minute.
Fabinho's injury comes at an inopportune time
A particularly disturbing scene from the point of view of the hosts, however, already played out before. After a collision with Hirving Lozano, Liverpool defensive midfielder Fabinho had to be replaced with an injury in the ankle / shin area. "He's in pain, it's not good," said Klopp before the investigation on Thursday, sounding not particularly optimistic. The Brazilian is Liverpool's most important midfield player as a fire extinguisher and ball distributor.
Worries about Fabinho are at best inappropriate, as the Christmas season, traditionally packed with games in English football, is starting to give Liverpool a little more stress this year: in addition to the usual commitments, the team is also at the World Cup demanded in Qatar. And the finals in Salzburg to progress in the Champions League is still on.
Liverpool FC - SSC Napoli 1: 1 (0: 1)
0: 1 Mertens (21)
1: 1 Lovren (65.)
Liverpool : Alisson Becker - Gomez (57th Oxlade-Chamberlain), Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson - Fabinho (19th Wijnaldum) - Henderson, Milner (78th Alexander Arnold) - Salah, Firmino, Mané
Naples : Meret - Maksimovic, Manolas, Koulibaly, Mario Rui - Allan, Zielinski - Di Lorenzo, Fabian Ruiz - Mertens (81st Elmas), Lozano (72nd Llorente)
Referee : Del Cerro Grande (Spain)
Yellow cards : Klopp, Robertson / Koulibaly
Spectators: 52,128
