Liverpool’s Champions League fate will be decided when they come up against Napoli in their final Group C match at Anfield on Tuesday.
The Reds currently sit third in the group on six points, with Napoli top on nine. Anything less than a win for last year’s finalists will see them crash out of the competition, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side and PSG to go through to the knockout stages.
Napoli were 1-0 winners in the first meeting between these two teams in October, with a late Lorenzo Insigne goal giving them all three points.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have lost all three of their away matches in the group, despite being top of the Premier League and still unbeaten after 16 matches.
They have, however, won both of their home matches in Europe so far and will be hoping that the famous Anfield crowd will be able to see them over the line on Tuesday night.
Read on for Liverpool vs Napoli live stream options, team news, predicted XIs, stats, and TV channel info.
When is Liverpool vs Napoli?
Competition: Champions League
Venue: Anfield
Date: Tuesday 11th December
Kick-off: 8:00 PM GMT
Match Preview
Liverpool will be disappointed to have not secured qualification for the knockout stages already, but we so often see them leave their fate in their own hands until late.
Klopp’s side were seconds away from securing a draw in the previous fixture between these two sides and really shouldn’t have been beaten away at Red Star Belgrade last month.
They also felt slightly hard done by coming away from the Parc des Princes empty-handed a fortnight ago, but their recent league form will definitely have them in good spirits coming into this match.
An impressive 4-0 victory over Bournemouth on Saturday put them at the top of the Premier League table, and Manchester City’s 2-0 loss to Chelsea ensured they’d stay there.
Napoli will also be confident ahead of this match having not been beaten since the end of September. Ancelotti’s men also registered a 4-0 victory over the weekend, dispatching 19th placed Frosinone at home.
After the match, their veteran manager insisted that they will not be going to Anfield to sit back and defend, and it’s worth remembering that they got the better of Liverpool just a matter of weeks ago.
It certainly promises to be a special European night under the lights at Anfield.
Where can I watch live?
Liverpool vs Napoli can be viewed by UK residents on BT Sport 2, BT Sport 2 HD and BT Sport 4K UHD.
The game is also available to watch on fuboTV for US-based viewers.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about fuboTV
How can Liverpool and Napoli qualify for the last 16?
For Liverpool to qualify, they must beat Napoli 1-0 or by at least a two-goal margin if the Serie A side manage to score on the night.
However, if second-placed PSG draw or lose away to Red Star Belgrade then any kind of victory would see the Reds go through.
If Liverpool, PSG and Napoli finish on nine points, Liverpool are guaranteed to top group, with PSG almost certainly second.
A third-place finish for Liverpool would see them drop into the last 32 of the Europa League.
Napoli, who currently top Group C, know that a draw would see them secure their place in the knockout stages.
However, they will be anxious to get on the scoresheet, with Liverpool likely to score at least once themselves.
More changes on the way for Liverpool?
Jurgen Klopp’s rotation policy certainly paid off last week, with Liverpool beating Everton, Burnley and Bournemouth in quick succession.
The German made seven changes to the team that beat Everton against Burnley and then made another five at Bournemouth on Saturday.
The likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane were all on the bench at the Vitality Stadium and you would expect all three of those to start on Tuesday.
Injuries to both Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez have seen Joel Matip and Virgil van Dijk start at centre-back in the Reds’ previous two matches, but there is an outside chance that Lovren could return against Napoli.
The good form of the likes of James Milner, Fabinho and Naby Keita will certainly give Klopp something to think about, though, as the competition for places at Liverpool hots up for the busy festive period.
Will Napoli park the bus at Anfield?
You wouldn’t put it past Napoli to sit in with 10 or 11 players behind the ball on Tuesday, but Ancelotti has insisted that won’t be the case.
The Italian coach says his side will take the game to Liverpool, which is probably the best approach considering Liverpool have picked apart numerous sides that have sat deep and defended against them this season.
“It’s going to be a tough, exciting match. We’ll go there and play our usual game,” Ancelotti said following his side’s win over Frosinone.
“It would be counter-productive to try and park the bus. Besides anything else, that’s not how we play.
“We’ll try to boss the game and I’m sure the lads are ready and fired up to give their absolute all. We’ll go there with an attacking mindset.”
Head To Head
These two sides are completely equal when it comes to previous meetings.
Competitively, they have played each other three times, with Liverpool winning one match, Napoli winning one and the other ending in a draw.
Of course, their most recent meeting was in the first group tie in Naples earlier this year.
Before that, they met twice in the Europa League during the 2010/11 season.
Liverpool wins: 1
Draws: 1
Napoli wins: 1
Team News
Dejan Lovren will be assessed in the build-up to the match having missed the victories over Everton, Burnley and Bournemouth with a concussion.
However, the centre-back was part of team training on Monday afternoon and looks as if he will be available.
Nathaniel Clyne also took part in the session having been ruled out for a number of weeks with an unspecified injury.
Adam Lallana picked up a head injury that required four stitches in the win at the Vitality on Saturday, but has trained as normal and will be available for selection. Dominic Solanke is still out.
Sadio Mane made his comeback from a foot injury on Saturday and is likely to start against Napoli, as are Trent Alexander-Arnold and captain Jordan Henderson.
For Napoli, Carlo Ancelotti rested the likes of David Ospina, Nikola Maksimovic, Raul Albiol, Mario Rui, Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens in the win over Frosinone on Saturday, all of whom are likely to return to the line-up against Liverpool.
Goalkeeper Alex Meret is likely to return to the bench after making his debut for the Serie A side on Saturday. Left-back Faouzi Ghoulam is back in action having recovered from a long-term injury but is unlikely to start at Anfield.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Shaqiri, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Mane; Firmino; Salah.
Predicted Napoli XI: Ospina; Maksimovic, Albiol, Koulibaly, Rui; Callejon, Allan, Hamsik, Ruiz; Mertens, Insigne.
Squawka Prediction
Liverpool will not want to spend the second half of the season playing Europa League football on Thursday nights, especially during a season where it looks as if they have a good chance of winning the Premier League.
It’s a tough ask but we think they’ll do the business under the lights at Anfield. 3-1.
Predictions & Betting Tips
Get the BetBull sign-up offer HERE – Ts&Cs apply. +18 only. BeGambleAware.org
1. Liverpool to score over 2.5 goals @ 13/8
Liverpool will be right up for this and they will need to be. A 1-0 win is enough to see them through, but they’ll be going for more to secure qualification.
There are very few sides capable of stopping Klopp’s team from scoring at Anfield and we expect the Reds to be right at it from kick-off.
Over 2.5 goals @ 13/8 is a banker.
Key stat: Liverpool have scored three or more goals in both of their home games in the Champions League so far this season.
Tip: Liverpool to score more than 2.5 goals @ 13/8 with BetBull – Bet here
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.Org
Odds correct as of 12.00, 10/12/19
2. Liverpool to win 3-1 @ 11/1
BetBull are offering an excellent price on our prediction of 3-1. A tenner on this would return a whopping £110.
We can’t see Liverpool scoring any less than two goals and if Napoli do manage to get on the scoresheet then the Reds will need three.
Key stat: Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 10 home games in the Champions League.
Tip: Liverpool to win 3-1 @ 11/1 with BetBull – Bet here
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.Org
Odds correct as of 12.00, 10/12/19
3. Penalty to be awarded @ 85/40
Liverpool have been awarded four penalties in the five Champions League matches they have played so far this season.
You quite often see opposing defenders dive in desperately when the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are on their way into the box. Take Angel Di Maria’s tackle on Mane a fortnight ago as an example.
With this price, you could double your money and more on the Reds being awarded a penalty vs Napoli.
Key stat: Liverpool have already been awarded four penalties in the Champions League this season.
Tip: Penalty to be awarded @ 85/40 with BetBull – Bet here
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.Org
Odds correct as of 12.00, 10/12/19
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