Klopp relishing Anfield ‘final’ against Napoli after PSG loss

PARIS: Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp remained positive despite seeing his side slip to a 2-1 defeat at Paris St Germain in the Champions League, labelling next month’s winner-takes-all clash with Napoli an Anfield “final”.

Group C leaders Napoli, who travel to Liverpool on Dec 11, are three points clear of the English Premier League side but a 1-0 win or a victory by a two-goal margin or more, will see Klopp’s men reach the last 16 of the Champions League once more.

“Now we have to use Anfield one more time. We are calling Anfield right now and we will see what happens,” Klopp said.

“We need to create an atmosphere that is really special, Napoli are a very good side.

“We have to make a special night – Dec 11 we have a proper final at Anfield.”

Goals from Juan Bernat and Neymar set PSG on their way to a crucial victory that revives their own Champions League campaign, meaning they will reach the knockout stages with three points against Red Star Belgrade in their final match.

Liverpool rallied after James Milner’s penalty got them back in the contest but an equaliser eluded them in the second half.

Klopp was particularly frustrated with what he thought was gamesmanship tactics by PSG in the Parc des Princes and also said home midfielder Marco Verratti was fortunate to escape a red card for a challenge on Joe Gomez in the first half.

“The little hurdle was the 5,000 interruptions tonight but the referee still thinks he did everything right,” Klopp added.