Champions League: Liverpool crashes to 1-4 defeat at Napoli

NAPLES: Liverpool, the Champions League runner-up last season, suffered a shock 1-4 defeat to Napoli in their opening Group A match at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium here on Wednesday.

The Italian side was magnificent in the opening 45 minutes, going in 3-0 up at the break, having opened up a woeful Liverpool defence at will. Jurgen Klopp’s team looked nothing like the side which reached the final last season, disorganised at the back and lacking any edge in midfield or attack.

Napoli was quick out of the blocks with Victor Osimhen hitting the post in the second minute. Three minutes later, the host grabbed the lead when James Milner handled in the box and Piotr Zielinski converted the penalty.

Napoli opened up Liverpool with ease and was awarded a second penalty when a VAR review ruled that Osimhen had been brought down by Virgil van Dijk. The Nigerian forward opted to take the kick himself, but his effort was saved by Alisson Becker.

Van Dijk had to clear off the line to keep out an effort by the outstanding Khvicha Kvaratskhelia after Osimhen had robbed a struggling Joe Gomez. Gomez lost out again leading to the second goal when Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa played a quick one-two with Zielinski and slotted in off the inside of the post. The home team continued to dominate the lop-sided contest and ended up 4-1 winner in the end.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane scored one goal and forced an own goal by Inter Milan as the German giant beat the Italian side 2-0 away in Group C.

Germany international Sane superbly controlled a pinpoint Joshua Kimmich cross before rounding Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana, who was making his debut for the club, to give Bayern the lead in the 25th minute.

Sane also deserves credit for the second goal as he dismantled the Inter defence with a lightning-quick double one-two with Kingsley Coman in the 66th. His shot was turned into the net by Inter captain Danilo D’Ambrosio.

RESULTS: Napoli 4 (Zielinski 5(P) & 47, Anguissa 31, Simeone 44) bt Liverpool 1 (Diaz 49); Ajax 4 (Alvarez 17, Berghuis 32, Kudus 33, Bergwijn 80) bt Rangers 0; Inter Milan 0 lost to Bayern Munich 2 (Sane 25, D’Ambrosio 66(OG)); Tottenham Hotspur 2 (Richarlison 76 & 81) bt Marseille 0; Atletico Madrid 2 (Hermoso 90, Griezmann 90) bt FC Porto 1 (Uribe 90(P)); Barcelona 5 (Kessie 13, Lewandowski 34, 45 & 67, Torres 71) bt Viktoria Plzen 1 (Sykora 44); Eintracht Frankfurt 0 lost to Sporting Lisbon 3 (Edwards 65, Trincao 67, Gomes dos Santos 82); Club Bruges 1 (Sylla 42) bt Bayer Leverkusen 0