Europa League: Liverpool v Napoli full time report
Liverpool 3 Napoli 1
Steven Gerrard scored a second half hat-trick to help Liverpool come from behind against Napoli.
The captain began the night on the bench, but he came on to devastating effect to give his side a very important win and one foot in the next round.
Ezequiel Lavezzi put Napoli in front on 28 minutes. He got onto the end of Edinson Cavani’s header which split the defence and calmly finished. It was what they deserved, and Lavezzi deserved to score a goal after causing problems for the Liverpool defence throughout the first half.
Gerrard made an impact from the bench to draw Liverpool level on 75 minutes after sliding the ball into the back of the net when anticipating a backpass to Napoli ‘keeper Morgan De Sanctis.
Gerrard converted a penalty four minutes before time after Glen Johnson was up-ended, and then he scored his hat-trick just moments later to round off a fine second half performance from Liverpool.
Liverpool started the game brightly, and the returning Johnson was looking threatening as he always does when he pushes on from right back. He curled in an early cross which nearly found Milan Jovanovic.
After the quick start from Liverpool, it spurred Napoli into action, and the Italian side then found their rhythm and soon got into their stride. Lavezzi’s first effort was deflected wide of Liverpool ‘keeper Pepe Reina’s goal after some good build-up. Lavezzi then turned chance-creator as he found Cavani with a delicious pass. The shot from Cavani wasn’t so sweet as his volley went high over the bar.
David Ngog has enjoyed the Europa League so far, and he got his first shot of the game on target as he received the ball from the rampaging Johnson, forcing De Sanctis into a simple save.
Lavezzi continued to look the likely to break the deadlock, and after he ran with the ball at feet, he released a thunderous shot which had Reina scrambling to his left.
Napoli were threatening in their attack, with Lavezzi, Cavani and Marek Hamsik all linking up with neat play. The attacking play brought a goal, and it was the man who was looking dangerous who scored it. Lavezzi got onto the end of Cavani’s header and he didn’t looked nervous at all when faced with Reina as he calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net.
Liverpool reacted extremely well to going a goal down, and Ngog almost got them level. His shot went slightly wide of the target, and had it not been for a slight nudge on him, he may have scored the equaliser. Johnson once again bombing forward had a shot saved well by De Sanctis as well from the edge of the box.
Liverpool began the second half with intent, and Ngog should have equalised after he was set up by Raul Meireles. Ngog’s shot was well saved by De Sanctis, but had it have been either side of him, he would have been beaten.
The introduction of captain Gerrard at half time gave the Liverpool players and the crowd the lift they needed, and there certainly was more of a spring in the Liverpool step.
Jonjo Shelvey was unable to get his header on target on the hour mark after getting onto the end of Ngog’s cross. As Liverpool were trying to find a way back into the game, Lavezzi continued to impress, running with the ball and making advancing runs, and one of his runs down the right hand side saw him deliver a good cross into the box, but none of his teammates could reach it.
Liverpool had a great chance to level, and it was something out of nothing, as Meireles on 65 minutes put his shot wide. The Portuguese international should have hit the target, and the miss saw new Liverpool owner John W Henry shaking his head with disapproval. The Anfield crowd were doing their best to get behind their side, and know that this season has been a major struggle .
The uplifting roar from the crowd nearly gave Gerrard the impetus he needed as his free kick 20 minutes from time went past the wall and wide. Gerrard down the years has pulled Liverpool out of the fire on many occasions, and he delighted the crowd after scoring the equaliser. He anticipated the short backpass from ex-Liverpool player Andrea Dossena to divert the ball past De Sanctis.
Maybe he should have started the game tonight, but it was a good decision from Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson to throw his skipper on to lift everyone inside Anfield, who haven’t had much to cheer about this season.
Johnson in the first half was almost like a winger at times, and his run four minutes before time resulted in a penalty after he was brought down. Gerrard stepped up to the penalty spot and fired his shot into the corner. It was a solid penalty, and after their play in the second half, was deserved.
Gerrard then grabbed his hat-trick a couple of minutes later after dinking the ball over De Sanctis. It was a beautiful finish from Liverpool’s most influential player over the years.
A much-needed win for Liverpool tonight, and now they head into their crunch Premier League game against Chelsea on Sunday full of confidence thanks to Gerrard’s fourth hat-trick for Liverpool.
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