Liverpool vs Napoli as it happened– Mohamed Salah’s goal sends Reds into Champions League last 16
Re-live the action from Anfield as Liverpool reached the knockout stages
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Your support makes all the difference.Mohamed Salah scored a solo goal and Alisson produced a crucial late save as Liverpool fc beat Napoli 1-0 to clinch a place in the Champions League's knockout stage at the expense of the Italian side.
Salah shrugged off one defender, drifted past another with a superb feint, and delivered a low finish inside the near post from an acute angle for the winning goal in the 34th minute.
Liverpool came into the game knowing a 1-0 victory, or any other win by a two-goal margin, would guarantee a spot in the round of 16 as the English team looks to go one better than last season.
Paris Saint-Germain, who won 4-1 at Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday, advanced as Group C winner, and Napoli had to settle for third place and dropping into the Europa League for the second straight season.
It would have been Liverpool missing out had Alisson not produced a reflex save to deny Arkadiusz Milik in the second minute of stoppage time. Re-live the action below:
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Napoli (Mohamed Salah, 34 minutes)
It had to be him!
Mohamed Salah outmuscles Fabian Ruiz on the edge of the area and faces up to Kalidou Koulibaly, dropping his shoulder with dismissive nonchalance to finally beat the domineering centre-half and turning his attentions to goal.
His touch takes him closer to the byline but David Ospina rather kindly offers Salah his near post, jutting out to cover the pass across, and Salah duly obliges, poking it past the Colombian all too easily to give Liverpool a deserved lead.
Barcelona 1-0 Tottenham, 40 minutes
Barcelona have wrested control of the game back from Spurs, though the visitors seem more settled defensively and the Spaniards aren't truly testing them in that regard.
Liverpool 1-0 Napoli, 39 minutes
A challenge of frustration from Kalidou Koulibaly, powering his right foot down on Mohamed Salah's left as the Egyptian looks for a one-two. A caution, and a free kick to the right of the box about 15 yards out.
As things stand, Liverpool would be going through. A 1-0 win is good enough.
Liverpool 1-0 Napoli, 41 minutes
A peculiar routine, with the ball played back to Trent Alexander-Arnold who tamely shoots into a collection of ankles by the penalty spot, with the path of the ball taking it wide, anyway.
A waste.
Barcelona 1-0 Tottenham, 43 minutes
After his brilliant goal in the reverse fixture, Spurs are brave to let Ivan Rakitic let fly from 25 yards but on this occasion Hugo Lloris safely catches high to his right with a little leap.
Barcelona 1-0 Tottenham, 44 minutes
Outside of the post!
Philippe Coutinho produces a gorgeous turn to turn to face the Tottenham goal and shows close control through a crowd of Spurs bodies.
Coutinho finds a wonderfully crafted curler that looks headed for the bottom corner, but just doesn't quite curl back enough, kissing the wrong side of the woodwork.
Half time at the Nou Camp. 1-0 to Barcelona thanks to an excellent individual goal from Ousmane Dembele.
Liverpool 1-0 Napoli, 45 minutes
Into three added minutes of stoppage time at Anfield.
Liverpool 1-0 Napoli, 45 + 2 minutes
Andrew Robertson gives the ball away 40 yards from his own goal, but, as ever, Virgil Van Djik is there to step in on Lorenzo Insigne and prevent the Italian from progressing any further.
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