Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia sparks Liverpool confusion as Napoli fans send X-rated message

Liverpool ended their Champions League group stage on a high with victory over Napoli on Tuesday.

Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez both scored in the closing stages to earn the Reds a 2-0 win against the runaway Serie A leaders. The result means Jurgen Klopp’s side have finished second in Group A and will be unseeded for the draw for the knockout stages on Monday.

But there was plenty that went unnoticed or under the radar during the 90 minutes at Anfield.

PAUL GORST: Jurgen Klopp agent confirms what Liverpool fans already knew as big target remains

IAN DOYLE: Fabinho answer may have been found as Darwin Nunez situation changes at Liverpool

JURGEN KLOPP: Liverpool boss makes 'cheeky' Khvicha Kvaratskhelia admission

Special KK

Such has been his impact during Napoli's impressive start to the season, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been a name on the lips of many observers across Europe. Well, something that sounds a bit like it at any rate.

Veteran Anfield turntablist George Sephton was the latest to struggle with the Georgian's tongue-twister of a name, his mumbled approximation met with chuckles from the Kop.

It capped a difficult night for George, who mixed up another substitution and, before the game, accidentally cut short a playing of Allez Allez Allez. The Anfield crowd carried on singing regardless.

Nunez gotta Nunez

Ask anyone in the Liverpool dressing room, and they'll say Darwin Nunez's English is improving day by day. The Uruguayan, though, clearly still has some way to go.

At least that's appeared the case when Mohamed Salah was spotted deep in conversation with his team-mate during the striker's late cameo.

Nunez listened intently - then shrugged his shoulders as if to suggest he had no idea what the Egyptian was on about. It'll come, Darwin.

Trent fumes

There was a somewhat strange moment towards the end of the game when Trent Alexander-Arnold was apparently booked because Liverpool conceded a throw-in. Certainly, the defender was bemused.

However, closer inspection of the incident revealed that, presumably in an attempt to prevent Napoli launching a quick attack, the Reds right-back allowed another ball to roll on to the pitch and cause play to be halted.

Referee Tobias Stieler wasn't to be hoodwinked and saw what had happened, despite Alexander-Arnold's perplexed reaction. Sneaky, Trent.

Napoli say hello

Fair play to the Napoli fans in the away end, who made the long journey from Italy on a horrible night despite realistically knowing their team's fate was already assured.

Mind you, they weren't too welcoming to their hosts. "F*** you Liverpool!" was the chant during the first half, repeating what had been heard in the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona back in September.

It coincided with the visitors being awarded an offside decision. Tough crowd, that lot.

READ NEXT

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.