Liverpool were made to wait to secure qualification to the Champions League last 16 as a stubborn Napoli held them to a 1-1 draw at Anfield.
Dries Mertens put Napoli ahead (21) with a fine finish from an acute angle, with Liverpool struggling to break down a disciplined defence in the first half.
They got going after the break, equalising through Dejan Lovren’s fine header (65), and despite camping in Napoli’s half for the remainder of the game, they could not find a way through.
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Player ratings
Liverpool: Alisson (6), Gomez (5), Van Dijk (7), Lovren (7), Robertson (6), Henderson (6), Fabinho (6), Milner (7), Salah (5), Firmino (7), Mane (6)
Subs: Wijnaldum (6), Oxlade-Chamberlain (7), Alexander-Arnold (6)
Napoli: Meret (7), Maksimovic (7), Manolas (7), Koulibaly (7), Mario Rui (7), Di Lorenz (6), Allan (6), Zielinski (7), Fabian (7), Mertens (7), Lozano (6)
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Subs: Llorente (5), Elmas (NA), Younes (NA)
Man of the match: Dejan Lovren
The result means Liverpool’s destiny does remain in their own hands, knowing a draw at Red Bull Salzburg on December 10 will send them through, but Jurgen Klopp must field a strong side in Austria during a busy period for the European champions. Salzburg can eliminate Liverpool with just a 1-0, 2-1 or 3-2 win at home.
Liverpool also again failed to keep a clean sheet for the 11th match in a row, their worst such run since 1998.
Source:Â skysports.com