Liverpool's starting XI the last time they played Napoli away back in October 2010

Liverpool go into their game against Napoli on Wednesday night with one of the most feared teams in European football.

Travelling to the Stadio San Paolo is one of the trickiest away trips on the continent but fresh from collecting the scalp of Paris Saint-Germain, there's great optimism around Liverpool at the moment.

Not only do they wield the stunning front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, but their back four has become almost impregnable under the leadership of Virgil van Dijk.

That's not to mention a stacked midfield arsenal that includes the likes of Naby Keita, James Milner, Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.

However, some of the finest teams in the world have come unstuck against Napoli, even if the Italian contenders are now without their charismatic coach Maurizio Sarri.

Liverpool faced Napoli in 2010-11

Some Liverpool fans will recall their previous meeting with the Neapolitans, though, back in the 2010-11 season when they drew each other in the Europa League group stages.

Steven Gerrard memorably scored a hat-trick from the bench in the game at Anfield yet the preceding game wasn't nearly as eventful and finished in a 0-0 stalemate.

What's more, the starting XI fielded that night was somewhat questionable when it comes to Liverpool and exemplifies the nadir reached under the reign of Roy Hodgson.

Roy Hodgson's bizarre starting XI

It doesn't fare well when compared to the current Liverpool side, either.

So, without further or do, here's the Liverpool team that took to the field in Naples nearly eight years ago and what's happened to the players since.

Pepe Reina - a brilliant goalkeeper at Liverpool for many years, the Spaniard is now winding down his career with AC Milan.

Martin Kelly - the young full-back held so much promise on Merseyside but never made the breakthrough; he's spent the last four years at Crystal Palace.

Jamie Carragher - a true Liverpool legend and playing his third-to-last season in 2010-11 before pursuing a career in punditry with Sky Sports.

Martin Skrtel - one of the most feared centre-backs in Premier League football during his time at Anfield and now finds himself at Fenerbahce.

Paul Konchesky - Hodgson made numerous poor signings at Liverpool and Konchesky - who now plays for sixth division East Thurrock United - was one of them.

Milan Jovanovic - signed on the back of a decent World Cup for Serbia, Jovanovic was quickly sold and retired in 2013 after two years with Anderlecht.

Christian Poulsen - another poor capture who performed soundly in South Africa, he was arguably Hodgson's worst signing and retired with Copenhagen in 2015.

Jay Spearing - currently fading from the memories of Liverpool fans in League One with Bolton despite making 55 appearances for the Reds.

Ryan Babel - the Dutchman is actually enjoying something of a renaissance with Besiktas now but had overstayed his welcome at Liverpool by 2011.

Jonjo Shelvey - a promising midfielder at Liverpool during the early 2010s yet never became a regular starter and now plies his trade in Newcastle.

David N'Gog - it just wouldn't be a Hodgson-Liverpool team without this man and he departed months later, currently playing for Nemzeti Bajnoksag in Hungary.

Latest Napoli vs Liverpool clash

If Liverpool turned up on Wednesday with that team, they'd be in for a thrashing.

That said, the above starting XI did manage to hold their own against a Napoli side that included players such as Marek Hamsik and Edinson Cavani.

Kopites can use their history against Napoli as cause for optimism in the Champions League this week and reassure themselves of the incredible progress they've made.

Regardless of how this season pans out under Klopp, their journey since 2010 is nothing short of remarkable.