UEFA Champions League 2019/20: Liverpool vs Napoli – Tactical Analysis

Liverpool needed just a point to all but guarantee their progression to the next round in the Champions League. Though only a point behind group leaders Liverpool, Napoli were less comfortable and would need at least one more win from their final two games to seal their progression. You couldnt imagine either side however looking for just a point in this game as top spot in the group was still within the reach for both teams.

It was Napoli however that turned up to disappoint, not only their opposition but the neutrals at home as well, as they put in a rigid display against the home favourites. The game played out to a 1-1 draw on the night as Liverpool struggled to create quality chances against a stout defence led by Kostas Manolas and Kalidou Koulibaly.

This tactical analysis will detail the flows of this epic clash between these two European heavyweights and illustrate the outcomes of both teams tactics. Our analysis will also explain just how Napoli were able to contain this Liverpool offence that has looked almost unstoppable in recent seasons.

Lineups

More of the same typical Jurgen Klopp rotation saw Trent Alexander-Arnold rested and Georginio Wijnaldum rested. In their places, Joe Gomez started at right-back whilst James Milner started in midfield.

Lorenzo Insigne missed the game on an account of a bruised elbow amongst other ugly rumours that he had fallen out of favour with the clubs president. This meant that there was a position on the left-hand side that needed to be filled, and so it was by the Polish international, Piotr Zieliński. Carlo Ancelotti rolled his side out in a 4-4-2 formation which opposed the 4-3-3 formation that Napoli had almost perfected under Maurizio Sarri.

Napolis 4-4-2

Napolis 4-4-2 was primarily used as a defensive tactic against Liverpools desire to commit large numbers of players to their attack. Napoli positioned themselves so deep within their own half when they didnt have the ball that even Mertens and Lozano were no more than 10 or so yards away from their own penalty area.

During the offensive phase of the game, however, this prevented any single Napoli striker from being isolated against Liverpools centre-backs. Up against Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren, any single striker would struggle to have an impact on the game. Playing as a two though allowed Dries Mertens and Hirving Lozano to play off each others movements and if at any point, they could get the ball behind Liverpools midfield, meant they could play in 2v2 and 1v1 scenarios.