Liverpool fans had very little to cheer in the early stages of their Group E clash at home to Napoli.

Dries Mertens handed the Serie A side the lead after 21 minutes.

The Belgian's finish was a fine one, but it wasn't without controversy as he appeared to foul Virgil van Dijk in the build-up. 

The Dutchman was left limping, sending alarm bells ringing, though he was able to carry on.

The last thing Jurgen Klopp needed was another injury after Fabinho had already gone off two minutes earlier, replaced by Gini Wijnaldum. 

That said, Anfield was at least treated to what is now becoming a routine battle between Mo Salah and Kalidou Koulibaly.

The centre-back is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the world and very few attackers in Italy can get past him.

The Senegal international will be glad Salah's Roma and Fiorentina days are behind him then, as the Egyptian just loves racing past him - he's done it the last three times they've faced each other, after all.


Napoli might be languishing in seventh in their domestic league, but that speaks of far-reaching off-field problems at the club more than anything else.

Kopites won't have forgotten how tough the reverse fixture was and it proved a case of de ja vu in the first half. 

The Reds were also denied a penalty when Sadio Mane felt he was fouled by Giovanni di Lorenzo. The referee waved away the forward's claims and probably rightly so. 

Salah's skill was about as good as it got in the opening 45 minutes.