Nunez cannot be stopped
Life is rarely boring for Darwin Nunez at Liverpool. Even when restricted to a late cameo appearance, it is simply impossible to keep the Uruguayan out of the spotlight.
Thrown on with 17 minutes remaining here against Napoli and the game goalless, Nunez found time to force the opening goal, score the second, almost set up another and get himself booked.
As at Ajax last week, the striker’s physical prowess at set-pieces proved pivotal, his powerful header from a Kostas Tsimikas corner only parried by Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret into the path of Mohamed Salah to prod home with five minutes remaining.
LFC RATINGS: Darwin Nunez and one more excellent in Napoli win
CL DRAW: Who Liverpool could face in Champions League last-16 after group stage progress
Deep into injury time, Nunez was then the one to respond quickest after Virgil van Dijk had an effort saved, the goal, initially flagged offside, eventually allowed following a lengthy VAR check. After a testing start to his Anfield career, the 23-year-old now has five goals in his last seven games.
The strike from Salah – who was back on the right flank after a period partnering Nunez down the middle – saw him reach another landmark by equalling Steven Gerrard’s club record of 41 goals in Europe and the same player’s 18 home goals in the Champions League.
And, given his supposedly below-par campaign, Salah now has 12 for the season and seven in the Champions League alone, making him the competition’s leading scorer. Imagine when the Egyptian starts finding some form...
Fabinho three and easy
Familiarity bred contentment for Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp opted to go back to what his midfield knows best.
After flirtations with 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2, along with briefly sporting a rough diamond, Liverpool reverted to the tried and trusted 4-3-3.
It was the right choice. As the Reds boss pinpointed afterwards, the ability to close down the spaces in the central squabbles meant his team weren’t overrun in anything like the manner they were at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona back in September.
With regular patterns and responsibilities ingrained, it also allowed the engine room occupants reassurance after the switching in roles of recent weeks.
James Milner, until departing with a head injury, was impressive, while Thiago Alcantara demonstrated grit alongside his usual guile.
Fabinho, though, was the player who prospered most from the tactical change, overcoming a slightly uncertain start to deliver his best performance in weeks after a campaign even more wildly inconsistent than the team itself. The standard has now been reset.
Elsewhere, Harvey Elliott – who appeared lost in Naples two months ago – was far more impactful during his second-half outing, and teenager Stefan Bajcetic will have gained from another late run-out.
Having attracted deserved criticism often this season, this time the midfield merited praise.
Klopp’s happy anniversary
Jurgen Klopp has never been one to make a big deal of anniversaries and landmarks.
But there will have been a sense of relief his 400th game in charge of Liverpool saw his team regain self-belief and momentum after an uneasy few days.
While it was always going to be a massive ask for the Reds to secure the four-goal margin that would have seen them leapfrog Napoli to win Group A, the value of this victory should not be undermined.
It may only be a footnote, but in terms of Klopp’s overall record it moved him on to 249 triumphs – a win percentage of more than 62% which outstrips every other Liverpool manager who has been in the hotseat for at least 40 games.
Meanwhile, UEFA's independent review may be taking its time publishing the report into events at the Champions League final in May, but the evening – and its aftermath – clearly remains fresh in the minds of the Liverpool supporters.
For the third home European game in a row, the stirring sound of the Champions League anthem was drowned out by first jeers from the home fans and then songs celebrating their team.
With Paris a potential destination in the last 16, the findings of the independent review are now eagerly awaited.
READ NEXT
- Who Liverpool could face in Champions League last-16 after group stage progress
- Liverpool player ratings as Darwin Nunez and one more excellent in Napoli win
- Liverpool have perfect partnership to revive season and fans know it
- Jason McAteer responds to critics after stance on FSG and Liverpool
- Jurgen Klopp agent speaks out on Liverpool manager future and makes FSG claim
