Jurgen Klopp praised Liverpool's performance in their 2-0 Champions League win over Napoli on Tuesday, saying it was the reaction he wanted from his players following their disappointing domestic form.
The Reds have suffered back-to-back Premier League losses to struggling Nottingham Forest and Leeds United in recent weeks, but showed their quality to dispatch an in-form Napoli side at Anfield thanks to late goals from Mohamed Salah and substitute Darwin Nunez.
Despite finishing on the same points, the Reds qualified from Group A as runners-up behind Napoli having lost their opener to the Italian club 4-1 back in September.
“The reaction I wanted to see,” Klopp said after the Anfield victory. “We all agreed that we have to show a reaction and we did in a very difficult game against a really good opponent.
“We don’t doubt the quality. I don’t think anybody doubts that quality but that’s part of the problem. We don’t show it with consistency.
"It was the worst possible start to this group with the performance against Napoli. They deserved the first place in the group."
Napoli travelled to England unbeaten in all competitions all season, having won their last 13 games in a row – a run stretching back to before their humiliation of Liverpool in September.
They took a more reserved approach from the off at Anfield, happy to sit back and invite pressure from the hosts.
Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, who had scored six goals in his previous four games in all competitions, should have done better from a good position in the first half, before Liverpool countered and Thiago Alcantara brought a fine save out of Alex Meret in the away goal.
Liverpool v Napoli ratings
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LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6. The Brazilian had few real alarms even when Napoli applied pressure. His best stop was from a deflection off Alexander-Arnold. AFP -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6. The 24-year-old was restrained in his forward motion. He was watchful in defence and was replaced by Ramsay with three minutes to go. Getty -
Ibrahima Konate - 7. The Frenchman’s distribution was questionable but his strength is impressive. He was solid in the air and in the tackle. Getty -
Virgil van Dijk - 7. The Dutchman’s header led to the second goal. He was calm in the face of Napoli’s threat. PA -
Kostas Tsimikas - 7. The Greek got up and down the line effectively. His corners led to the goals. PA -
James Milner - 6. The 36-year-old worked hard until he came out worse in a clash of heads. As a result he made way for Elliott in the 48th minute. AP -
Fabinho - 6. The Brazilian could have received two yellow cards but he set the tempo in the midfield. He was still not quite on his best form. EPA -
Thiago Alacantara - 6. The 31-year-old made Merat save in the first half but his passing needed to be more direct. Bajcetic came on for him with three minutes to go. PA -
Mohamed Salah - 7. The Egyptian was quickest to the ball to open the scoring. It was a reward in a game where supply was short for the striker. EPA -
Roberto Firmino - 6. The Brazilian made a good flick or two and linked the play without threatening too much. He was withdrawn for Carvalho with three minutes to go. AP -
Curtis Jones - 6. The 21-year-old caused plenty of problems with his direct running and his eye for a pass. He tired and was replaced by Nunez with 17 minutes left. AP -
SUBS: Harvey Elliott - 6. The 19-year-old came on for Milner in the 48th minute. He added some youthful energy and worked diligently in attack and defence. EPA -
Darwin Nunez - 8 . The Uruguayan joined the game with 17 minutes to go, replacing Jones. His header led to the first goal and he scored the winner. A tremendous cameo. AP -
Stefan Bajcetic - N/A. The 18-year-old replaced Thiago for the last three minutes. He was energetic in his short cameo. Reuters -
Calvin Ramsay - N/A. The 19-year-old made his debut when he replaced Alexander-Arnold for the last three minutes. There were no alarms for the youngster. PA -
Fabio Carvalho - N/A. The Portuguese was given a three-minute runout when Firmino left the game. He fired over the bar. PA -
NAPOLI RATINGS: Alex Meret - 6. The Italian had a relatively quiet night until the last five minutes. He did his best to stop the Liverpool goals but needed more help from defenders. AP -
Giovanni Di Lorenzo - 5. The 29-year-old was not composed. His positional play was poor and his distribution lacked precision. AP -
Leo Ostigard - 6. The Norwegian was denied a goal by a very marginal offside decision. He was strong defensively. PA -
Kim Min-jae - 5. The South Korean made a series of blocks and tackles. He looked secure until Liverpool’s late barrage. Getty -
Mathias Olivera - 6. The Uruguayan kept a tight rein on Salah for most of the game. His distribution was impressive. Action Images -
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa - 7. The Cameroonian made his mark in the midfield. He tackled hard and used the ball well. EPA -
Stanislav Lobotka – 6 . The Slovakian worked effectively but did not create enough. He could have been more adventurous and made way for Zielinski with seven minutes to go. Getty -
Tanguy Ndombele - 4. The Frenchman struggled to find his footing in midfield. He was replaced by Raspadori with three minutes to go. PA -
Matteo Politano - 4. The Italian did not get on the ball enough. When he did get possession, he did not use it effectively. He made way for Lozano in the 70th minute. PA -
Victor Osimhen - 5. The Nigerian did not get the service he needed and failed to use his pace. He was withdrawn for Simeone with three minutes to go. AP -
Khvicha Kvaratskheli - 6. The Georgian was his team’s biggest threat. He lacked support and was replaced by Elmas with three minutes to go. EPA -
SUBS: Hirving Lozano - 5. The Mexican came on for Politano with 20 minutes to go. He did not have much impact on the game. EPA -
Piotr Zielinski - N/A. The Pole joined the action with seven minutes to go for Lobotka. He struggled to get to the rhythm of the game. EPA -
Elif Elmas - N/A. The Macedonian was given the last three minutes at Kvaratskheli’s expense. He might wish he has stayed on the bench as Napoli shipped a second goal. Getty Images -
Giacomo Raspadori - N/A. The 22-year-old had a three-minute cameo when he came on for Ndombele. He was as anonymous as the man he replaced. Reuters -
Giovanni Simeone - N/A. The Argentine replaced Osimhen with three minutes to go. He saw little of the ball. PA
The game needed something to ignite it, and Napoli's overturned opener did just that, with the Italians frustrated by how long the decision took to make.
Liverpool stepped it up a gear after that, with Nunez making a real difference when he came off the bench.
It was the Uruguayan whose header was saved before Salah prodded in, and he showed his poacher's instincts at the death to tap home, a goal awarded following another lengthy VAR review.
Salah’s 85th-minute effort saw him equal club great Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool European goal record of 41.
The Egypt international directed home after Nunez’s initial effort was saved, before the substitute scored for a third straight European game with the last kick in stoppage time.
“Absolutely good,” Klopp said of Nunez’s impact.
Napoli's 4-1 demolition of Liverpool in their group opener in September proved crucial in the end, as they finished on 15 points, the same as Liverpool, but with a better goal difference in clashes between the pair.
"We are proud of getting through such a difficult group, not only getting through but topping it," said Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti. "I think we kept the game very even, we created chances for ourselves, we suffered in moments.
"We were playing a giant like Liverpool at Anfield. I can only say well done to my players."
