Jürgen Klopp has rejected the hangover theory throughout the search for answers to Liverpool’s inconsistent start but, if a punishing price has been paid for last season’s exertions and the deflating final week, he will hope for a cure at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Napoli away is no one’s idea of a gentle introduction to a Champions League campaign. The Italian club have not lost any of their past eight home games in the competition, are unbeaten this season under Luciano Spalletti, and Liverpool have not won in three visits to the stadium. The past two trips, in the group stage, brought laboured performances and late defeats under Klopp. It provides the perfect setting, therefore, for Liverpool to demonstrate the best of last season – including the ruthless touch and defensive organisation that helped them become the only team in Champions League history to win all of their away matches from the group stage to the final.
