Liverpool ended winning streak the naples

Liverpool ended Napoli's winning streak after they beat the Italians in their final group stage match Tuesday night. But this victory still does not shift Napoli as group winners.

Whilst this was technically a final-day decider of who would finish top of Group A, a combination of Napoli’s invincible start to the season, Liverpool’s inconsistency, and requirement for the hosts to win by four or more goals meant any change to the standings was unlikely.

Still, the Reds pressed for the opener in front of an Anfield crowd that was left wanting more during Saturday’s uninspiring defeat to Leeds United.

Thiago Alcântara’s curler from the edge of the box was kept out by Alex Meret and Curtis Jones headed onto the roof of the net from Roberto Firmino’s skillful tee up.

These attempts were a wake up call for Gli Azzurri, who were in danger of conceding first for only the fourth time this season. Their ferocity to maintain their perfect record was shown as James Milner sustained a cut to the head in an aerial duel with André Zambo Anguissa, but with no victory in their last 11 away trips to English opposition, it was going to take a historical effort to topple Liverpool.

Leo Østigård thought he had done just that shortly after Half time, heading in from Kvicha Kvaratskhelia’s free-kick, but after a lengthy VAR intervention the goal was ruled out.

This left an exciting climax to the match, as if not a place in the Round of 16, then pride was the prize of the night. Kvaratskhelia almost snatched it with a snapshot volley, but was denied by a Trent Alexander-Arnold block, which would prove costly for the Italians as Salah popped up even later to hand Liverpool the lead. Núñez leaped highest to head Kostas Tsimikas’ corner goalwards, with the Egyptian bundling the ball over the line after Meret’s initial save.

Seven minutes of added time allowed Núñez to tap in a second with the last kick of the game from another corner, copying his strike partner by bundling Virgil van Dijk’s header past Meret. 

Whilst it may prove inconsequential to how Group A shapes up, Luciano Spalletti’s men taste defeat for the first time this campaign, and Klopp’s side get revenge for a heavy defeat in the reverse fixture.