Well, we needed a 1-0 win and that's exactly what we got. At times it looked as though the Reds would never find the net and even when we did the aim remained the same for Napoli which made for an extremely nervy final quarter of the game.
Forced into starting Joel Matip after the injury to Joe Gomez, Jurgen Klopp must have been hoping for a now-famous solid defensive performance from Liverpool but that was nearly hindered when Virgil van Dijk was shown a yellow early on.
His tackle was perfectly timed, he won the ball and the ref wasn't even interested in the situation initially but somehow we ended up with our star defender on a yellow and missing the next match. It was a ridiculous decision.
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| Image via standard.co.uk |
For me, I was a bit concerned because any defender on a yellow is going to play more cautiously and we needed Virgil to be able to step in if required. I shouldn't have worried though, he remained cool, calm and collected at all times and helped see his team over the line.
Liverpool's goal appeared just after the half-hour mark. Mo Salah with a strong run into the box slotted home from an angle leaving Anfield stunned. The Egyptian is there when Kopites need him most. Also, I don't know many forwards there that stay on their feet after that tug, how many strikers do you see risking it and going down to chance the decision. Great work by Mo.
With 60 odd minutes still to go and some tactical changes from Ancelotti to contend with Liverpool had their work cut out. We had a few chances of our own but we just weren't clinical and in the meantime, the Italians were building in confidence.
Their chance to break hearts under the Anfield floodlights came deep into stoppage time when Alisson made an absolute worldie save against close range Milik. What an absolute Brazilian god.
Jurgen Klopp summed it up perfectly for me: "If I knew Alisson was this good I would have paid double."
And so, the Reds are through to the last 16. Nobody in that hat will want Liverpool, I've always said over two legs in knockout football the Reds can have anyone.
Roll on the draw next week!