'A real horror show!' - Klopp says Napoli thrashing was his worst defeat as Liverpool boss

Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool's defeat to Napoli last week was the worst performance of his near seven-year reign at Anfield.

Players were called to a meeting after 4-1 loss
Worse than 7-2 Villa defeat
Reds face Ajax on Tuesday

WHAT HAPPENED? The Reds boss reflected on his side's 4-1 reverse in Italy in their opening Champions League group match - their worst European loss since 1966 - and said he could find few positives to take from it.

WHAT THEY SAID: Speaking ahead of the game with Ajax on Tuesday, Klopp told reporters: "We had a meeting with the players. I watched the game back plenty of times and it was a real horror show, to be honest. The boys knew, but then seeing it again made it really obvious; it was the worst game we played since I am here, and we played a few bad games.

"Everybody remembers Aston Villa [when Liverpool lost 7-2 in 2020] and some others where we were just not up to speed, but there were at least glimpses. In this [Napoli] game, nothing. We have to understand why that happened. I think eight out of the [starting] XI were absolutely below their level, and the three others were not at their top level, just normal."

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THE BIGGER PICTURE: Liverpool were 3-0 down by half-time in Naples, with Victor Osimhen finding time to miss a penalty in the meantime, and though they performed better after the break, their 4-1 loss was their heaviest in continental competition since a 5-1 defeat to Ajax, 56 years ago.

AND WHAT'S MORE: Later, Klopp was asked by a journalist if the postponement of last weekend's game with Wolves may cause his side to "lose rhythm." He replied: "Which rhythm?! We had none! Did you watch our game? Losing this rhythm would be really cool!"