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LONDON - -urgen Klopp attempted to deliver one of those answers that carried authority and assurance but, this time, the words felt hollow.

Asked about the potential for confidence to be irreparably damaged by the most sobering Anfield night in Liverpool’s European history, Klopp looked up from underneath his baseball cap and did his best to argue to the contrary.

³That is absolutely not allowed,´ he said, his tone low. ³If you don’t learn the start was outstanding and was us in a nutshell, if we allow this one game to be influential, we are really silly. We have a few days when I make sure we take the (LQWUDFKW )UDQNIXUW

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Napoli coach Luciano Spalletti warned his side’s µbiggest enemy is to think it’s done’ after Tuesday’s 2-0 last-16, first-leg win at a 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt. Napoli won their first-ever Champions League away knockout match thanks to goals either side of half time from 9ictor Osimhen and *iovanni Di Loren]o.

³It was an end-to-end game, which we want and thrive in. We right things.

³

*ood luck. There are only so many blows one group can take and the pummelling Liverpool suffered at Real Madrid’s hands made you think of a boxer, heaving on his haunches after taking one fight too many ± muscle memory and a glorious past mean nothing when you can’t defend yourself.

This was Liverpool’s 11th defeat of the campaign, in all competitions, and they are getting uglier. Naples in September

should have been as bad, but the past month ± with horror shows at Brentford, Brighton and Wolves ± had been utterly appalling.

At many other clubs, Klopp would be teetering on the brink after such a ruinous seTuence, but there is no potential for a sacking ± nor should there be there isn’t a better manager in the world for Liverpool and those with a bloodlust to see a man lose his Mob would be advised to look elsewhere.

Still, past deeds don’t make him exempt from criticism and it has baffled how Liverpool have continually made the same mistakes this season, enabling opponents to run through their middle and ransack them. Klopp can dispute the lasting impact on confidence, but it is there for all to see.