Liverpool embarrassed by Napoli, lose in UEFA Champions League opening match

Liverpool preferred to emerge victorious from Group A of the UEFA Champions League, but it got off to an embarrassing start on Wednesday.

The Reds lost 4-1 to Napoli in an opening game.

Liverpool looked lost defensively and Napoli took it apart and left the field at halftime with a 3-0 lead.

Piotr Zielinski scored a penalty in the fifth minute of the game after a foul had been committed in Liverpool’s penalty area.

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Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa scored another goal in the 31st minute and Napoli took an impressive lead as the Reds searched for answers.

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But the biggest blow had to be the third goal for Napoli, as Liverpool had ample opportunity to eliminate the threat from his side of the pitch. Giovanni Simeone, however, gave a pass on Liverpool’s six-metre line and sent shockwaves through Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s bench in the 44th minute.

To make matters worse, Napoli started the second half straight away with a goal, Zielinski’s second of the day.

Giovanni Simeone of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring a goal during a UEFA Champions League Group A match against Liverpool FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona September 7, 2022 in Naples, Italy.
(Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)

Luis Diaz of Liverpool scored in the 49th minute, but it was all for naught. The result was already certain.

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The interesting statistic coming out of the game, other than Napoli’s upset, is the fact that Liverpool had possession for 62% of the game, against Napoli’s 38%. Liverpool completed 584 passes to its opponents’ 381, but it just couldn’t defend when it needed to.

Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah reacts after Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (not pictured) of SSC Napoli scores his team’s second goal during a UEFA Champions League Group A game at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona September 7, 2022 in Naples, Italy.
(Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

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It doesn’t get any easier for Liverpool. It will face Dutch powerhouse Ajax in its next UEFA Champions League match on September 13.