Liverpool bank on Salah in key Napoli clash Buoyant Tottenham face Barca in make-or-break tie

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Reds bank on Egyptian’s form, Anfield record in survival battle vs Italian side

LIVERPOOL:LIVERPOOL must again rely on fortress Anfield to inflict Napoli’s first Champions League defeat of the season if they are to avoid the disappointment of a group stage exit just over six months since appearing in last season’s final.

The five-time European champions will most likely even have to win by two goals if they concede due to Napoli’s 1-0 triumph when the sides last met in September.

Yet, such a scenario is nothing new for Liverpool and even rekindles fond memories of similar permutations when they hosted Olympiakos in the final Champions League group game of the 2004-05 season.

Brazilian legend Rivaldo’s early free-kick left the hosts needing three goals, which they got in dramatic fashion in the second half as Steven Gerrard’s spectacular strike sealed a famous 3-1 win four minutes from time.

Inspired by Gerrard, the Reds went on to win their last Champions League title that season with a far inferior squad to the one that is off to a club record unbeaten start and top of the Premier League after 16 games.

Overcome the huge challenge facing them in midweek and Liverpool will again be among the favourites to lift the Champions League in Madrid next June.

However, in stark contrast to their consistency in the Premier League, Juergen Klopp’s men have lost three of their five European encounters in Group C to put their chances of reaching the last 16 in serious peril.

There is some comfort for Klopp that all three defeats came on the road to Napoli, Red Star Belgrade and Paris Saintgermain, while Liverpool haven’t lost in 18 European games at Anfield.

The German coach also isn’t as reliant on an individual figure for inspiration as Rafael Benitez’s vintage 14 years ago were on Gerrard.

The signings of centre-back Virgil van Dijk and goalkeeper Alisson Becker over the past year have drastically improved Liverpool’s defensive record. LONDON: Tottenham are sitting pretty in the Premier League but face a potentially season-defining match against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men are currently third behind Liverpool and Manchester City. That they have managed that despite playing in their temporary home of Wembley and after a World Cup in which so many of their players featured until the final weekend, makes their achievement all the more impressive.

However, with City and Liverpool in such rampant form, few expect Spurs to win the Premier League, putting increased emphasis on their match against the Spanish league leaders.

Pochettino must somehow find a way past Lionel Messi’s Barcelona to reach the knockout stages but he remains positive ahead of the daunting trip to the Camp Nou to face the five-time European champions.

“It will be a massive game. They have qualified for the next stage but in the Champions League no one is going to give a present,” said the Argentine, who left Harry Kane out of the starting line-up for the 2-0 win away to Leicester on Saturday.

“We need to win and deserve to win. The mentality is going to be 200 percent to try to win. We are going to arrive in the best condition, Barcelona are one of the best teams in Europe.”

Spurs took just one point from their first three games in Group B, losing to Inter Milan and Barcelona and drawing with PSV.

But they beat PSV at home and then scored late through Christian Eriksen to beat Inter 1-0 at Wembley, leaving them in second place on seven points, the same as the Italians. With Barcelona guaranteed to top the group, Spurs must match Inter’s result to guarantee progress. Pochettino has in the past talked about how only the Premier League or Champions League title will take the club to the “next level”, even

though the trophy cabinet has been empty since 2008.

Spurs have played in the Champions League for the past three seasons but they cannot boast the pedigree or history of Manchester United or Liverpool in Europe’s top club competition.

They have only progressed beyond the Champions League group stage twice, reaching the quarter-finals in 2011.