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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Liverpool make decision on injury returns as youngsters set for Napoli opportunity

Jurgen Klopp and his players may have got the job done in Amsterdam last week but there is still work to do for Liverpool's youngsters in Europe.

A 3-1 defeat against Ajax means the Reds under-19s still need a point to progress to the last 16 of the UEFA Youth League when they finish the group stage at home to Napoli at Kirkby this afternoon (kick-off 2pm).

Barry Lewtas' side are two points clear of second-placed Ajax at the summit with a better head-to-head record against the Dutch side, having thrashed them 4-0 at the Academy in September.

READ MORE: Liverpool midfield absence explained and three other things spotted in training ahead of Napoli

READ MORE: 'He is an option' - Jurgen Klopp hints at Liverpool team selection change for Napoli

Liverpool are already assured a top-two finish and further involvement in the competition in the New Year. The eight group winners qualify directly for the last 16, with the runners-up facing a play-off against the winners from the domestic champions path for a place in the knockout stages.

The Reds will be bolstered by the return of goalkeeper Harvey Davies and centre-back Lee Jonas from suspension, although Oakley Cannonier - the tournament's joint-leading scoring with seven goals - remains on the sidelines.

Isaac Mabaya is another player to have been absent in recent weeks, and Lewtas says: "He has a little bit of a problem with his ankle. With the run of games we have, we have to be careful not to rush players back. It seems they have missed a lot of games because we play every three days but he's only missed a couple of weeks. We will go week to week with him. But it's nothing major.

"There's no real reason for us to throw anybody in. It's still in our hands, we have already qualified for the next stage so we won't be risking anyone. But we want to finish top of the group. We are playing so many games at the moment, but our focus remains the same and that is to try to win every game we play. There's nothing simpler to it than that."

Unlike their first team, Napoli have struggled in the UEFA Youth League and will finish bottom of Group A. They were beaten 2-1 at home by Liverpool on the opening matchday, with their only point coming in a 1-1 draw at home to Ajax.

The Reds bounced back from their defeat in Holland with a 3-0 Premier League 2 win at West Ham United at the weekend, with 11 of the 15 players who appeared for the U21s likely to be involved this afternoon.

"It was probably our best performance of the season, if I'm going to be honest," says Lewtas. "The lads were superb technically, superb tactically. What we wanted to do, we were really good at it.

"But the lads' energy, work-rate was just phenomenal all the way through, even near the end when we were 3-0 up. I'm unbelievably happy."

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