Jurgen Klopp looking for Liverpool reaction against Ajax after 'worst game' of his reign

Reds manager describes the 4-1 thrashing at Napoli as like watching a 'horror show'

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during the 4-1 defeat at Napoli. AFP

Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski celebrates after scoring the first in the 4-1 Champions League win against Liverpool on September 7, 2022. AFP

Piotr Zielinski scores from the penalty spot. AFP

Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk fouls Victor Osimhen. AP

Napoli's Victor Osimhen after missing a penalty. AP

Napoli players celebrate after Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa scored their second goal. AP

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa makes it 2-0 to Napoli. Reuters

Giovanni Simeone celebrates with teammate Matteo Politano after scoring Napoli's third. Getty

Giovanni Simeone after scoring No 3. Getty

Napoli's Piotr Zielinski scores their fourth. AP

Piotr Zielinski celebrates his second and Napoli's fourth. Getty

Luis Diaz pulls a goal back for Liverpool. PA

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Napoli's Luciano Spalletti on the touchline. PA

Jurgen Klopp has described his team's 4-1 Champions League defeat against Napoli in their Group A opener as “the worst game” of his Liverpool reign.

The German is looking for a reaction from his players when they take on Dutch side Ajax at Anfield on Tuesday as they look to get their European campaign up and running.

Last season's beaten finalists could not have started their new campaign in worse fashion as they found themselves 3-0 down at half-time in an opening 45 minutes that also saw goalkeeper Alisson Becker save a penalty.

“I watched the game back plenty of times and it was a real horror show to be honest. It was the worst game we played since I was here,” Klopp said of the heavy defeat in Italy.

“Eight out of 11 were below their level and the three others were not on a top level, just a normal game.

“I have to do something, I can’t sit there and wait for how we react. Is this the situation I wanted? No. But now you are in it you find it interesting and challenging.

“[We had a] general meeting, showing these situations and they are too obvious. It was not needed to say a lot about it but I did anyway.

“Did I question the players? Generally, no. In this situation, yes. ‘Why would you do that? Why would we do that?’

“When James Milner arrives too late in a challenge and we lose challenges where we would usually win them, you know something is wrong.

“There are four or five days now of absolute truth. We didn’t hide anything, we didn’t hold back anything, there was no need for that.

“We just said it how it is, but not to knock the players down or whatever, just to make sure where we are now is the starting point for us and we make sure we sort the problems together on the pitch.

Napoli 4 Liverpool 1: player ratings

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

“There was no pointing at each other, that was the good thing about the game pretty much.”

There are no signs that the injury problems that have blighted their start to the season are coming to an end, with Scottish full-back Andy Robertson ruled out until after the international break this month with a knee problem. Curtis Jones is also unavailable.

Klopp also said he does not expect Naby Keita to go on international duty while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is no closer to a return. “The expected return date is somewhere in October,” Klopp said. “With Ox it's the same. That's why the two boys are not in the Champions League squad.”

Klopp believes part of the problem in Naples may have been the players were trying to overcorrect a disappointing start to the season, which has seen them win just two of their opening six league matches.

However, he has told them he does not want individuals heading off on hero missions as it has to be a collective effort.

“We had obvious football problems, defending and attacking, but what led to this problem was a misjudgement of the situation,” he said.

“I know the players want to sort the situation: we are not over the moon about our season so far.

“In this game it looked like everyone wanted to sort the problem but by themselves and that didn’t give us the structure to work together.”