Europa League: Liverpool v Napoli half time report
Liverpool 0 Napoli 1
Napoli have a lead they deserve at half time against Liverpool at Anfield.
Ezequiel Lavezzi scored the goal on 28 minutes which was coming based on Napoli’s play. He got onto the end of Edinson Cavani’s header which split the defence and calmly finished. It was what they merited for taking the game to Liverpool and creating the better chances.
Liverpool put some pressure on early on, as Glen Johnson whipped in a delightful cross, but the lively Milan Jovanovic was unable to get onto the end of it.
Napoli then threatened soon after, with Lavezzi’s shot deflecting into the side netting as the Italian side looked to settle better than Liverpool. Lavezzi then turned provider for Cavani as his pass beat the Liverpool defence, but Cavani’s ambitious shot on the volley went harmlessly over the bar.
David Ngog posted a shot on target, collecting the ball from Johnson just inside the box, turning onto his left foot and making Napoli ‘keeper Morgan De Sanctis work.
Lavezzi was looking dangerous, and on 23 minutes he fired a shot after a good dribble just wide of Liverpool ‘keeper Pepe Reina’s goal. The Italian side most certainly settle well, and Lavezzi was causing problems for the home side.
Ex-Liverpool man Andrea Dossena was working hard down the left for Napoli, constantly getting forward and putting decent crosses into the box. Napoli continued to put the pressure, and it was Lavezzi who scored after slotting the ball past Reina. Lavezzi deserved his goal for his efforts, and he raced onto Cavani’s header which caught the Liverpool defence out.
Ngog burst beyond the defence a few minutes later and nearly found the equaliser, but his shot went slightly wide after getting a nudge from the covering defender. Liverpool reacted well to going a goal down, and Johnson had a shot from the edge of the box to force De Sanctis into a save.
Napoli are value for money for their lead at half time, with Liverpool unable to string passes and attacks together to trouble the away side.
Tags: