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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Andy Robertson fumes as James Milner sends Mohamed Salah message in Liverpool defeat

Liverpool's rollercoaster season continued with a dreadful defeat at Italian side Napoli on Wednesday.

Luis Diaz found the target in the second half but it was mere consolation with Jurgen Klopp’s side hammered 4-1. The result was the Reds heaviest defeat in Europe since losing 5-1 at Ajax in 1966.

But there was plenty that went unnoticed or under the radar during the 90 minutes at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

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Andy angered

The game was up long before the final whistle for Liverpool. And the frustration was already apparent in some of the players.

During one second-half attack, Andy Robertson - one of the very few Reds to find anything like his level - took possession on the left flank and, having waited and waited for some available forward options, instead was forced to turn back and find Virgil van Dijk back near the centre circle.

That the left-back then threw his hands in the air in sheer exasperation spoke volumes. You tell 'em, Andy.

Mo motivated

James Milner would be the first to admit he didn't have the best of games by any stretch of the imagination. But that didn't mean the skipper neglected his captaincy duties.

After Mohamed Salah was guilty of some continued poor control during a dismal first half, Milner went over to the despondent Egyptian and had a few words in an attempt to lift his spirits.

At least the duo could later continue their conversation at closer quarters on the bench given both were given the hook shortly after the hour.

Harvey's wardrobe malfunction

For Harvey Elliott, the defeat was an eye-opening experience as he struggled to make inroads against Napoli, not helped by the lack of midfield cohesion around him.

And even when he had been withdrawn during the second half, the youngster still found matters difficult as he grappled in vain for a good while as he struggled to put on his training bib.

This was evidently one of those evenings where nothing would go right for Liverpool.

Italian job

The sheer number of cars heading towards the stadium indicated seemingly all of Naples was heading to watch Wednesday's match. But for all the noise and passion inside Napoli's home, there was an eerie silence when the two teams stepped out of the tunnel ahead of kick-off.

Soon, though, it all became clear. As is seemingly the norm in Italy, any reaction to the emergence of the gladiators on a major European night is reserved for the very final bar of the greatest theme tune in football.

"THE CHAMPIONS!" roared the Napoli fans in unison. It never, ever gets old.

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