Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admits Napoli draw a setback

Football
28 Nov 2019 • 7:05 AM MYT
Tribal Football
Tribal Football

Tribal Football covers news from the Premier League, LaLiga and Serie A

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admits their draw with Napoli was a setback to their Champions League defence.

Defending champions Liverpool will need at least a point in their final group game at Red Bull Salzburg to guarantee reaching the last 16 of the Champions League after a lacklustre draw against Napoli.

Dejan Lovren cancelled out Dries Mertens' opener for Napoli at Anfield.

Klopp said, "In [the Napoli] dressing room they feel like they are already through and maybe they are. Everybody here thinks, 'Oh my god, it will be tough' and it will be tough, that much is clear.

"The way Napoli set up, it didn't help that they scored, they could follow their plan all the time, we had to increase pressure all the time. We were not brilliant but we put pressure on them. I was not happy with the last 15 minutes of the first half. Second half it was just intense and of course it's not easy, they really defended the goal they had.

"We didn't have the biggest chances, maybe one or two. For tonight it might not be enough but it's still our situation. When we go to Salzburg, if we had done it tonight we would try to win there, so it's still our goal.

"They closed the centre so we needed to come from the wing. The plan is one thing but the boys have to execute it, and they crossed too early. We take that, it was always a hard one.

"The biggest things is the Fabinho injury, that's massive. It's early and we all hope it's not too serious but it's pretty painful and in an area you don't want to have pain, around the ankle."