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Played
November 4, 2010 8:05 PM GMT
Anfield — Liverpool
Referee: F. Fautrel
Attendance: 33892
November 4, 2010 8:05 PM GMT
Anfield — Liverpool
Referee: F. Fautrel
Attendance: 33892
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| Liverpool | 5.00 | 1.80 | 1.90 | 4.75 | 1.91 | 1.85 |
| Draw | 1.20 | 3.40 | 3.45 | 1.36 | 3.40 | 3.40 |
| Napoli | 10.00 | 4.50 | 3.85 | 8.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
Liverpool - Napoli Preview: Glen Johnson likely to return as Roy Hodgson promises strong line-up
By Harry Veal
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool
Glen Jo
hnson looks set to make his comeback from a thigh injury in the clash with Napoli. The England international has missed Liverpool’s last four games but could return in what Roy Hodgson has promised will be a strong line-up.
However, with a Premier League clash with Chelsea on Sunday, it remains to be seen whether Roy Hodgson will risk star players Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
Dirk Kuyt, Fabio Aurelio and Daniel Agger are all still sidelined through injury, while Joe Cole will miss the game at Anfield, but could return to face his former club Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.
Possible starting XI: Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Carragher, Konchesky; Rodriguez, Lucas, Gerrard, Jovanovic; Babel, Ngog.
Napoli
Manager Walter Mazzarri rested star striker Edinson Cavani for the weekend win over Brescia in Serie A, and the Uruguay international is likely to start upfront at Anfield.
Walter Gargano and Michele Pazienza are likely to start in midfield for the Italians, alongside reported Manchester United target Marek Hamsik.
Meanwhile, Hugo Campagnaro, Salvatore Aronica and Paolo Cannavaro should start in a three man back line, whilst former Liverpool man Andrea Dossena could turn out against his former employers.
Possible starting XI: De Sanctis; Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio, Gargano, Pazienza, Hamsik, Dossena; Cavani, Lavezzi
Hodgson looking for ‘balance’
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson believes that his side need to earn four points from their remaining three games to progress in the Europa League, but with an important clash against Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Hodgson admits he is looking to strike a "balance" with his team.
"At home it's a slightly lesser problem but of course we need to look at the minutes people are playing and try to keep some sort of balance there,” Hodgson admitted.
The former Fulham boss is also thankful that the clash is at Anfield, suggesting that avoiding a long European away trip could give his side the edge against the Italians.
"When you're playing these European games it's the travelling that's one of the worst aspects.
"You're away for three days and you're very concerned about the way the players will react, not just to the game but also the travelling."
With Dirk Kuyt out injured and Fernando Torres still not at his full potential after a slow start to the season, the game could also give top scorer David Ngog another chance to build on his six Europa League goals this season.
Hamsik to put transfer talk to one side
Reported Manchester United transfer target Marek Hamsik has moved to put talk about his future to one side to focus on his side’s clash with Liverpool on Thursday night.
The 23-year-old admitted earlier this week that a move to Old Trafford would be hard to turn down but he has stressed that the side need to concentrate on the clash at Anfield.
"This isn't really about individuals, it is about the group and it is an important game for Napoli," he said.
"It will be difficult because when you play in Europe there are no easy games.
"At the moment there are [transfer] rumours and that is all. I'm quite relaxed about the situation and I just want to play well for Napoli.”
Liverpool
Glen Jo
hnson looks set to make his comeback from a thigh injury in the clash with Napoli. The England international has missed Liverpool’s last four games but could return in what Roy Hodgson has promised will be a strong line-up.
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However, with a Premier League clash with Chelsea on Sunday, it remains to be seen whether Roy Hodgson will risk star players Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
Dirk Kuyt, Fabio Aurelio and Daniel Agger are all still sidelined through injury, while Joe Cole will miss the game at Anfield, but could return to face his former club Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday.
Possible starting XI: Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Carragher, Konchesky; Rodriguez, Lucas, Gerrard, Jovanovic; Babel, Ngog.
Napoli
Manager Walter Mazzarri rested star striker Edinson Cavani for the weekend win over Brescia in Serie A, and the Uruguay international is likely to start upfront at Anfield.Walter Gargano and Michele Pazienza are likely to start in midfield for the Italians, alongside reported Manchester United target Marek Hamsik.
Meanwhile, Hugo Campagnaro, Salvatore Aronica and Paolo Cannavaro should start in a three man back line, whilst former Liverpool man Andrea Dossena could turn out against his former employers.
Possible starting XI: De Sanctis; Cannavaro, Aronica; Maggio, Gargano, Pazienza, Hamsik, Dossena; Cavani, Lavezzi
Hodgson looking for ‘balance’
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson believes that his side need to earn four points from their remaining three games to progress in the Europa League, but with an important clash against Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday, Hodgson admits he is looking to strike a "balance" with his team.
"At home it's a slightly lesser problem but of course we need to look at the minutes people are playing and try to keep some sort of balance there,” Hodgson admitted.
The former Fulham boss is also thankful that the clash is at Anfield, suggesting that avoiding a long European away trip could give his side the edge against the Italians.
"When you're playing these European games it's the travelling that's one of the worst aspects.
"You're away for three days and you're very concerned about the way the players will react, not just to the game but also the travelling."
With Dirk Kuyt out injured and Fernando Torres still not at his full potential after a slow start to the season, the game could also give top scorer David Ngog another chance to build on his six Europa League goals this season.
Hamsik to put transfer talk to one side
Reported Manchester United transfer target Marek Hamsik has moved to put talk about his future to one side to focus on his side’s clash with Liverpool on Thursday night.
The 23-year-old admitted earlier this week that a move to Old Trafford would be hard to turn down but he has stressed that the side need to concentrate on the clash at Anfield.
"This isn't really about individuals, it is about the group and it is an important game for Napoli," he said.
"It will be difficult because when you play in Europe there are no easy games.
"At the moment there are [transfer] rumours and that is all. I'm quite relaxed about the situation and I just want to play well for Napoli.”
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
-
Liverpool 2-0 Napoli
- 29.12 %
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Liverpool 1-0 Napoli
- 13.61 %
-
Liverpool 0-0 Napoli
- 11.32 %
| Europa League (EL) | 4 Nov 2010 | Liverpool 3 - Napoli 1 |
|
| Europa League (EL) | 21 Oct 2010 | Napoli 0 - Liverpool 0 |
|
Liverpool
    |
||
| 13 May 2012 | Swansea City 1 - Liverpool 0 | EPL |
| 8 May 2012 | Liverpool 4 - Chelsea FC 1 | EPL |
| 5 May 2012 | Liverpool 1 - Chelsea FC 2 | FA |
| 1 May 2012 | Liverpool 0 - Fulham 1 | EPL |
| 28 Apr 2012 | Norwich City 0 - Liverpool 3 | EPL |
Napoli
 |
||
| 20 May 2012 | Juventus 0 - Napoli 2 | ITAC |
| 13 May 2012 | Napoli 2 - Siena 1 | ITA1 |
| 6 May 2012 | Bologna 2 - Napoli 0 | ITA1 |
| 1 May 2012 | Napoli 2 - Palermo 0 | ITA1 |
| 28 Apr 2012 | Roma 2 - Napoli 2 | ITA1 |
| Returns: | Liverpool £50.00 |
|
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| Returns: | Draw £34.00 |
|
Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 | |
| Returns: | Napoli £100.00 |
|
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| 25 | José Reina Paez | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Glen Johnson | Defender |
| 23 | Jamie Carragher | Defender |
| 16 | Sotirios Kyrgiakos | Defender |
| 3 | Paul Konchesky | Defender |
| 28 | Christian Poulsen | Midfielder |
| 20 | Jay Spearing | Midfielder |
| 33 | Jonjo Shelvey | Midfielder |
| 16 | Raúl Meireles | Midfielder |
| 24 | David Ngog | Striker |
| 41 | Martin Hansen | Goalkeeper |
| 34 | Martin Kelly | Defender |
| 39 | Nathan Eccleston | Striker |
| 21 | Lucas | Midfielder |
| 37 | Martin Skrtel | Defender |
| 22 | Danny Wilson | Defender |
| 8 | Steven Gerrard | Midfielder |
| 1 | Morgan De Sanctis | Goalkeeper |
| 14 | Hugo Armando Campagnaro | Defender |
| 28 | Paolo Cannavaro | Defender |
| 6 | Salvatore Aronica | Defender |
| 11 | Christian Maggio | Midfielder |
| 4 | Michele Pazienza | Midfielder |
| 23 | W. Gargano | Midfielder |
| 8 | Andrea Dossena | Defender |
| 17 | Marek Hamsik | Midfielder |
| 7 | Edinson Cavani | Striker |
| 22 | Ezequiel Lavezzi | Striker |
| - | Matteo Gianello | Goalkeeper |
| 33 | Fabiano Santacroce | Defender |
| 18 | Juan Camilo Zúñiga | Defender |
| 11 | José Sosa | Midfielder |
| 19 | Hassan Yebda | Midfielder |
| 2 | Gianluca Grava | Defender |
| 14 | Nicolao Dumitru | Striker |
| David Ngog | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 24 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Despite the obvious names of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, the European form of David Ngog could prove to be the difference at Anfield. The young Frenchman has scored six Europa League goals already this campaign and boss Roy Hodgson will be hoping that his forward can continue this form with Fernando Torres still not back to his best.
| Edinson Cavani | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 7 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani is likely to be Napoli’s main goal threat at Anfield. The 23-year-old has been in fine form for the Serie A side so far this season since his summer switch from Palermo, scoring 9 goals in 11 appearances.
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Striker Schalke |
14 | 3 |
|
Radamel Falcao
Striker Atlético Madrid |
12 | 1 |
|
Adrián
Striker Atlético Madrid |
10 | 0 |
|
Fernando Llorente Torres
Striker Bilbao |
7 | 2 |
|
Jonatan Ezequiel Cristaldo
Striker Metalist Kharki |
7 | 0 |
