PLAYER RATINGS: LIVERPOOL 2-0 NAPOLI

Liverpool beat Napoli at Anfield tonight courtesy of two late goals from set pieces. Mohamed Salah bundled one home in the 85th minute before Darwin Nunez tapped home a second at the death. Here are player ratings from the encounter.

Alisson – 6

His kicking was poor for large parts of the game. He then pulled out an Alisson special late on to play Salah through for a Darwin chance. Held on well to an Ndombele strike first half and a deflected Kvaratskhelia shot second half. Wasn’t tested much.

Alexander-Arnold – 6

Played some unbelievable passes forward, most of them first time. Defensively he was given a bit of a tough night by the Georgian Messi. Nutmegged at least twice in the opening ten minutes. Lost him for that deflected strike and was lucky he got enough on it to take the sting out.

Konaté – 8

Rock solid tonight. Matched Osimhen stride for stride. Matched Kvaratskhelia for pace early on too when he shoulder barged him in the box. Carried the ball out of defence a number of times to cause overloads. Took one for the team when he halted a counter by tripping Lobotka in the centre circle. Please stay fit.

Van Dijk – 7

Was involved in a titanic battle with the Nigerian striker. Came out on top in a number of physical duels. Played a few fantastic diagonals to the right wing to set off attacks. He powered a header goalwards deep into stoppage time, with Darwin poking home the rebound.

Tsimikas – 7.5

First half he was heavily involved as he tried to bomb down the left. With Trent a bit more conservative on the right, the onus was on him to support the attack. Swung in a few tasty crosses, with two late set pieces causing the Napoli defence problems. Kept Politano quiet. A real solid shift.

Fabinho – 5.5

Thought he looked off the pace once again, with Anguissa and Ndombele just dancing past him at times. Too easily beaten of late, as he was for the free kick that led to their disallowed goal. In possession he’s not adding much either, just side to side and backwards. Grew in confidence after the first goal went in.

Milner – 5

Mucked in. Took a blow to the head that drew blood. Soldiered on till he went down with injury straight after halftime.

Thiago – 8

There’s not a lot of times I watch him and don’t think he’s the best player on the pitch. He was on it again tonight, constantly finding time and space in a hotly contested midfield battle. He sprayed some delightful passes out wide to Salah in particular and went close to scoring when his side footed effort was pushed wide by Meret. Always shows bravery to get on the ball in the tightest of spaces.

Jones – 6

Played on the left wing in a 4-3-3. Chipped one just over the crossbar early on after Salah sent him through at a tight angle. Headed one over after an acrobatic Firmino cross. Set up Elliott for a shot late on after good feet in the box. An improved performance. Looked after the ball well.

Firmino – 5

Gave the ball away so many times tonight. He’s been ran into the ground though in all fairness. His best moment was a backheel volleyed flick of a cross for Jones to head over.

Salah – 7

Back on the right wing tonight and was well marshalled by Olivera I thought. He looked dangerous early on though and created decent chances for Jones and Thiago. He faded a bit as he was drawn into a physical battle with the full back. Looked better when Darwin came on. A typical poacher’s finish saw him stab home Darwin’s parried header.

Substitutes

Elliott – 6.5

Skied one shot on the edge of the box after lovely play by Jones. Showed lovely footwork down the right wing in a move that ended with a Carvalho shot.

Darwin – 7

Played on the left when he came on and impressed once again. His sheer presence seems to bring chaos and that’s what happened again tonight. His powerful header from Tsimikas’ cross was only parried as far as Salah for the opening goal, before he himself benefited off another parry by Meret to poke home at the death. He almost put one on a plate for Salah beforehand as well after a driving run down the left and a good cross.

Ramsay – 6

The young Scot finally made his debut and managed to catch the eye in his limited time on the pitch. He showed confidence on the ball, checking back inside his marker on more than one occasion. Showed good defensive awareness to chest a deep cross behind for a corner with a man lurking behind him. More to come.

Bajcetic – 6

Got stuck in. Another who didn’t let the occasion get to him. Wasn’t shy to get on the ball and play or put in a tackle.

Carvalho – 6

Involved in that lovely one-touch move down the right wing. Sent his shot over the bar at the end of that move. Stuck to his defensive duties by tracking Di Lorenzo.

Jürgen Klopp

Made four changes to the side that lost against Leeds, with Konaté, Tsimikas, Milner and Jones coming in for Gomez, Robertson, Elliott and Darwin Nunez. His side were more solid as a unit and looked better than at the weekend.

Another injury (this time to Milner) forced a change but it was not until the introduction of Darwin Nunez that his side looked dangerous going forward. Two scrappy goals at the end sealed a morale boosting victory to end Napoli’s 27 match unbeaten run.