Europa League: Napoli v Liverpool full time report
Napoli 0 Liverpool 0
A much-changed Liverpool earned a welcome Europa League point in Naples, as the Reds kept Serie A’s fourth placed side at bay.
Fielding a side that showed seven changes from last weekend’s Merseyside derby, the Reds were able to subdue their hosts for large periods of the first half, although Paul Konchesky had to clear a Marek Hamšik effort off the line.
Ryan Babel missed Liverpool’s best chance when his effort was saved by Morgan De Sanctis, while David Ngog’s excellent turn and shot was well blocked.
Edinson Cavani saw a shot saved by Pepe Reina and headed wide, but the visitors’ defence held firm.
Reds boss Roy Hodgson named an inexperienced starting line-up for the clash with the side riding high in Serie A, with youngster Jonjo Shelvey making his first start for the club and both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres left back home on Merseyside.
Despite the unfamiliar look to their team and the club’s poor form, the Reds started confidently, and only a miscontrol from Babel prevented him from getting a shot away after the Dutchman was found by a terrific Milan Jovanović pass.
Napoli’s first threat came from a corner, but neither Christian Maggio nor Cavani could get a clean strike on the ball, before Ezequiel Lavezzi drove over from distance.
Liverpool were keeping the ball well and frustrating their Italian hosts, with young midfielders Jay Spearing and Shelvey impressive in particular. The latter – a summer signing from Charlton Athletic – saw an effort from distance saved by De Sanctis.
Reds ‘keeper Reina had barely been troubled, although he was indebted to defender Konchesky for clearing a Hamšik effort off the line in stoppage time at the end of the first half. With Konchesky stationed underneath the crossbar when he cleared the ball, there were initial fears that the ball had crossed the line, only for replays to prove that it hadn’t.
The Reds took off captain Jamie Carragher at the break and replaced him with Sotirios Kyrgiakos, and that wasn’t the only change, as forward Ngog – who usually sports the No. 24 shirt – emerged for the second half wearing the same No. 34 as team-mate Martin Kelly, the Reds right back.
Ngog’s error rectified, Napoli’s former Liverpool man Andrea Dossena carried on being a thorn in the side of his old club, and one good run down the left ended in Cavani’s shot, under pressure from Konchesky, being well saved by Reina– the first chance of the second half.
The dangerous Cavani headed wide shortly after, as Napoli began to test the Reds rearguard more and more. Fabio Aurélio came on for Konchesky for Liverpool.
Hodgson’s side continued to absorb Napoli’s pressure, but Jovanović soon carved out the best chance of the night when he released Babel, only for the Dutchman to shoot straight at De Sanctis’ legs when clean through.
Joe Cole came on as the Reds looked for a goal, and it almost arrived when a terrific turn from Ngog ended in a goal-bound shot that was well blocked by Salvatore Aronica.
With Liverpool content with a point, a late Napoli surge was expected, but the Reds held them off somewhat comfortably, and earned a point that ensures they remain firm favourites to win Group K.
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