Liverpool fans were nothing but honest in their assessment of the 4-1 loss at Napoli, a performance that could have inflicted a deeper wound on the scoreboard.
it was coming It was building and the cards were falling in Naples, with Napoli dishing out a helping of cold, hard reality for a completely out of it Liverpool team.
Within five minutes the Reds were down 1-0, at 47 the score was 4-0 when the Reds were put through. Luis Díaz put Liverpool on the scoreboard and was the one who was looking to drag his team down again.
But Jurgen Klopp’s side looked tired, that spark and intensity that has been a hallmark of their absent side and Napoli smelled of blood.
The return of Thiago, the debut of Arthur and another appearance off the bench for Diogo Jota was a welcome sight, senior options off the bench at last.
But fans didn’t stop at their evaluation of the performance…
A defensive performance from Liverpool that demands the use of chaotic and passive words (older viewers will remember the era of Torben Piechnik and others and draw comparisons). It is the worst they have played in Europe since Belgrade four years ago.
— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) September 7, 2022
Overwhelmed, overwhelmed, overwhelmed (again): running out of energy, lacking faith, all of the above? It is very worrying to see key figures who seem like shadows of their former selves.
— Gareth Roberts (@robbohuyton) September 7,
Sad Liverpool. Seriously worried now.
— Cameron Hogwood (@ch_skysports) September 7, 2022
Outrun AGAINOutsprinted AGAINNow Outrun #LFC
— Dan Kennett (@DanKennett) September 7, 2022
Poor performances on the pitch in that half, but Liverpool’s inability to exert control in midfield this season is absolutely staggering. Writing in teams and smothering counters with physical intensity was his entire identity under Jurgen Klopp, what happened?
— David Lynch (@dmlynch) September 7, 2022
Thank God it’s over! And thank goodness Napoli took their foot off the gas in the second half! Horrible for #LFC with Diaz only one to really emerge with some credit.
— Paul Grech (@paul_grech) September 7, 2022
The internal investigation needs to start immediately, that’s a really poor result on top of some already awful performances. Questionable desire or just totally crazed? Or maybe a mix of the two. #NAPLIV
— Chris Williams (@Chris78Williams) September 7, 2022
The #LFC have conceded as many goals (3) and had as many shots on target (4) in the first half as they have in the 2018 and 2019 #UCL games at Napoli combined. The moral of the story is to close shop on tricky Euro exits rather than fail to protect the rear. Sometimes it takes 4 #NAPLIV
— Chris Mac (@chrismackop) September 7, 2022
FULL TIME THOUGHTS #NAPLIV1) One of the worst in a long time2) Did we even see a full one? midfield at the end there 3) Some players need the dungeon treatment 4) They just have to delete that game and move on 5) Klopp needs serious changes to change this 6) sigh
Yours?
— Couch Nish (@CouchNish) September 7, 2022
It is the lack of desire, of aggression that is so worrying. Where the hell does this come from? They were 2 games, 2 goals, away from a quadruple 4 months ago. #LFC under Klopp all about intensity, fight. Never before have I seen them so weak in all departments. shocking. Embarrassing.
— David Maddock (@MaddockMirror) September 7, 2022
Do you remember the days when we had a midfield that everyone said was dead, couldn’t score but could outplay everyone?
— Lizzi Doyle (@lizzidoyle) September 7, 2022
Fortunately, I only caught the last 30 minutes of whatever it was, but there were some troubling themes this season. The pressure and the intensity, it’s all gone. The players are absolutely enthusiastic or they don’t bother.
— Leanne Prescott (@_lfcleanne) September 7, 2022
There’s no way this is a pothole. I knew we would lose a lot tonight. It is more than a problem, it is more than a discomfort. It is the end of an era that is ultimately due to a chronic lack of investment in the team. While everyone improved, we stayed put and this is the result.
— Sean (@shornKOOMINS) September 7, 2022
Everything has become very stale.
The squad, the formation, the tactics, everything.
It’s early enough in the season to salvage something, but it’s also early enough to make it worse. I am very concerned that it is the latter.
— Rory Greenfield (@RoryGreenfield) September 7, 2022
It’s been the perfect storm for Liverpool to start the season and the worst needs to be weathered, but the question remains, how long will it take?
The night is one we’ll all want to quickly forget, but a reaction against Wolves on Saturday is to be had; nothing less is acceptable.
