Just as well that Jurgen Klopp did not pause for too long to wonder if there was a pattern to the misfortunes of managers in the opening round of the Champions League.
On Wednesday morning, a German coach who has reached two of the last three finals of the competition was sacked after a shock away defeat. About the same time, a compatriot was fired after a 4-1 loss in his opening group game.
The farewells of Chelsea’s Thomas Tuchel and RB Leipzig’s Domenico Tedesco were the actions of clubs used to changing managers often and suddenly.
Klopp, approaching the seventh anniversary of his appointment at Liverpool, is reassured that his achievements – including three Champions League finals in the last five years and, like Tuchel, a win in one of them – can withstand a bruising 4-1 loss at Napoli. “We have different kinds of owners,” Klopp reckoned after Tuesday night’s hammering in southern Italy. “Ours are more calm.”
Nevertheless, the executives of Fenway Sports Group, who have had Klopp as their chief ally for more than half of their 12 years as proprietors of Liverpool will be curious about his plan to recover from the poorest start to a season on his watch.
“We need to reinvent ourselves,” suggested Klopp after Napoli, who had a penalty saved and might have racked up half a dozen goals, blitzed a Liverpool hard to recognise from the version that in May was pursuing an improbable Quadruple.
They failed to add a European Cup and a Premier League to their two domestic cups only on the last day of each of those competitions.
How Klopp defines the “reinvention” remains to be seen - “I said we need to reinvent ourselves because the basic things aren’t there,” he elaborated – but a broad upheaval of the formulas that elevated his Liverpool to second-best in Europe last season, to breathing down the neck of Manchester City in the Premier League, would be to dismantle a brilliant template.
The routines of his key players are entrenched; the clear concern is that they are not being matched by the high energy levels required, or that they are so entrenched that opponents are familiar enough with them that a counter-plan can be drawn up and put into effective practice.
Napoli set about exposing the high defensive line that has been a trademark of Klopp’s Liverpool, and signalled the intent early, a pass from Giovanni Di Lorenzo in the first minute inviting Victor Osimhen to run in behind and shoot against the post.
Napoli, with Osimhen leading the charge, and the nimble Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia wide on the left, are well equipped to stretch a back line intent on stealing yards and they executed their task excellently.
For Virgil van Dijk, so long the pillar of Liverpool’s defence, it was a haunting evening. For Trent Alexander-Arnold another game where critics round on disparities in the full-back’s large portfolio of skills – the distinction between his high standards as a passer and director of attacking initiatives and his difficulties containing or marshalling opponents.
It is often assumed that Alexander-Arnold, still only 23, will develop into a central midfielder later in his career. With each error he makes at right-back, there are calls for that change to be accelerated.
Liverpool are short in midfield, too, a contributing factor to a rickety start to the season. In the league, the competition where they lost just twice in 2021-22, they have dropped points in four of their six games.
They will go into Saturday’s meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers with a troublesome injury list: Jordan Henderson is out, as are Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Fabio Carvalho; Thiago Alcantara has only just returned from a month-and-a-half recuperating.
Napoli 4 Liverpool 1: player ratings
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NAPOLI PLAYER RATINGS: Alex Meret - 6. The Italian was nervous when dealing with aerial balls and his punches were not convincing. He made a fine save from Diaz’s header. Getty -
Giovanni Di Lorenzo - 7. The 29-year-old was strong in the air and efficient on the ground. Diaz gave him problems but he stuck to his task. His use of the ball was impressive, too. EPA -
Kim Min-jae - 7. The South Korean was composed, quick to the ball and strong in the tackle. Liverpool found little joy in the areas he patrolled. AFP -
Amir Rrahmani - 7. The Kosovan made a number of blocks and interceptions. He was rarely exposed and linked well with Kim to cut out danger. AFP -
Mathias Olivera - 7. The Uruguayan had an easy night and must have expected more of a challenge from Salah and Alexander-Arnold. He was taken off with 16 minutes to go and replaced by Rui. PA -
Stanislav Lobotka - 8. The Slovakian was able to find space with ease and looked to start attacks. His through ball to Simeone carved open the defence and made it easy for Napoli to score their fourth goal. PA -
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa - 8. The Cameroonian scored the second after a splendid wall pass with Zielinski and started the move for the third goal with a superb spinning move in midfield. He never looked this good during his spell at Fulham. Getty -
Matteo Politano - 7. The Italian’s shot hit Milner’s arm and earned a penalty for Napoli. He was an influential presence until making way for Lozano in the 58th minute. PA -
Piotr Zielinski - 8. The Pole scored his penalty with ease and it was strange that Osimhen was allowed to take the second spot-kick. His one-two with Anguissa opened up the defence for the Cameroonian to put Napoli two up. Then he scored the fourth goal before being substituted in the 74th minute for Elmas. Getty -
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - 8. Liverpool struggled to contain the Georgian but his over-elaboration sometimes slowed down attacks. He made beating Alexander-Arnold and Gomez look easy before he set up the third goal. He made way for Zerbin in the 57th minute. PA -
Victor Osimhen - 7. The Nigerian hit the post in the opening minutes and caused chaos every time the ball came to him. He forced Van Dijk to concede the second penalty. Bizarrely, the striker took it himself, although Zielinski had dispatched the earlier spot kick, and Alisson saved. There were questions about his fitness and he limped off after 41 minutes and was replaced by Simeone. AFP -
SUBS: Giovanni Simeone (Osimhen 41') - 7. The Argentine came off the bench when Osimhen limped off and scored within three minutes. He set up the fourth goal for Zielinski and led the line well. Getty -
Alessio Zerbin (Kvaratskhelia 57') - 7. The 23-year-old was bright and caused problems for the defence as Napoli eased their way to the final whistle. Getty -
Hirving Lozano (Politano 58') - 6. The Mexican got into good positions but his shooting lacked power and precision. EPA -
Mario Rui (Olivera 74') - 6. The Portuguese saw out the final minutes with the minimum of fuss. EPA -
Elif Elmas (Zielinski 74') - 6. The Macedonian helped keep his side ticking over. AFP -
LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6. The Brazilian was left exposed by his defence. He saved a penalty and was quick off his line when needed. There was not much he could do for any of the goals. Getty -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 3. The 23-year-old made Meret work from a free kick and sent in a couple of good crosses but his defensive work was poor. There are question marks over his involvement in the third and fourth Napoli goals. AFP -
Joe Gomez - 2. The 25-year-old had two lucky escapes after being exposed by Osimhen, once when the striker hit the post and again when Van Dijk cleared off the line. Then things went downhill. He lost the ball before the second goal and was not strong enough to halt Kvaratskhelia for the third. Matip replaced him after the break. AP -
Virgil van Dijk - 3. The Dutchman gave away a penalty – which Alisson saved – and was missing in action for Napoli’s fourth goal. Even a last-ditch goal-line clearance in the first half failed to put a shine on an ineffective performance. AFP -
Andrew Robertson - 5. The Scot got up and down the line and will be grateful that Napoli’s most threatening moments did not occur on his flank. His link play with Diaz is slowly improving. PA -
Fabinho - 4. The Brazilian tried hard to confront Napoli’s dominance but could not impose himself. The home team were too quick and passed the ball around him. EPA -
James Milner - 3. The 36-year-old conceded an early penalty and was booked shortly afterwards. He struggled to come to grips with the Napoli midfield and was replaced by Thiago in the 63rd minute. PA -
Harvey Elliott - 4. The 19-year-old was one of the team’s brighter elements in the first half. He showed glimpses of his creative ability but was over-run in the midfield and was tiring when he was withdrawn for Arthur with 13 minutes to go. PA -
Mohamed Salah - 3. The Egyptian’s control let him down when presented with a good chance and he shot once straight at the goalkeeper. He got little service but nevertheless looked out of sorts. Jota replaced him in the 63rd minute. PA -
Roberto Firmino - 3. The Brazilian kept dropping deep but he was unable to get into the game. His distribution was poor and he made way for Nunez in the 62nd minute. Getty -
Luis Diaz - 6. The Colombian scored his team’s only goal and his cutting in from the left caused the defence problems. He too often shoots from low-percentage positions, though. Getty -
SUBS: Joel Matip (Gomez 45') - 5. The 31-year-old came on for Gomez after half time. The back line was less porous for his presence but hardly solid. AFP -
Darwin Nunez (Firmino 62') - 4. The Uruguayan produced one shot, which was blocked, but did little else of consequence. AP -
Diogo Jota (Salah 63') - 5. The Portuguese ran hard in a lost cause but gave the defence few worries. Getty -
Thiago Alcantara (Milner 63') - 6. The 31-year-old made the midfield more effective but Napoli were in strolling mode by the time he got on the pitch. Reuters -
Arthur Melo (Elliott 77') - 5. The Brazilian on loan from Juventus made his debut with 13 minutes to go, in place of Elliott. He was on a hiding to nothing but had two shots blocked. AFP
The shortage of cover hurts because fatigue was always likely to be Liverpool’s enemy after a historic campaign in which there were no days off. They played the maximum possible 63 matches between last August and late May. Add to that the shortened summer break, and stamina, essential for a fierce pressing game, is especially tested.
Mohamed Salah, the most potent of their strikers and expert presser, shows some symptoms of tiredness. He had a sapping 2022, with Egypt involved in the Africa Cup of Nations up until a losing final decided on penalties to Senegal and in a losing two-legged World Cup play-off that also went to spot-kicks against the same opponents.
In the first half of 2021-22, he scored 22 times for his club; he added nine goals in the second half of the campaign.
He also found himself adapting to changes in the way a carefully grooved forward line was operating. With the January addition of Luis Diaz, a positive signing, Salah’s long-term partner, Sadio Mane shifted into a more central position.
With Mane’s summer departure to Bayern Munich, some of the old Liverpool’s instincts up front had to again be rethought While Darwin Nunez, recruited from Benfica, is a formidable addition, his opportunity to develop relationships on the pitch has been interrupted by a red card in his second Premier League match and subsequent suspension.
Fact is, Klopp was already ‘reinventing’ aspects of Liverpool before the season began. He now needs to accelerate the process with very little pause between fixtures.
