SUPER MO ENDS NAPOLI’S PROUD RUN
MOHAMED SALAH equalled Steven Gerrard’s European goals record for Liverpool as his 85th-minute strike paved the way for a 2-0 win over previously undefeated Napoli at Anfield. When the Serie A leaders’ goalkeeper Alex Meret barely kept substitute Darwin Nunez’s header from crossing the line, the Egypt international followed up to force the ball home. It was his 41st European goal — all coming in 64 Champions League appearances — and his 12th in all competitions this season. Salah also matched Gerrard’s record of 18 Champions League goals at Anfield in his 29th outing. Gerrard’s European goals came over 129 games in the Champions League, Europa League and UEFA Cup including qualifying rounds. Nunez then scored for a third successive European game with the last kick when Meret spilled Virgil van Dijk’s header, although it required VAR to overturn an errant offside flag. ‘To win against one of the best teams in the world is the best feeling,’ said Salah. ‘We have to carry it on. It’s a good result which will give us more confidence for the cup and league.’ The victory ensured a Champions League group stage which had begun with a 4-1 humbling in Naples, offering a portent of the difficulties to come, finished on a high even though Jurgen Klopp’s side had already qualified for the knockout stage. That this match passed with little alarm — with the second-half goal they conceded to Leo Ostigard ruled out by VAR — was a positive. The first half was unremarkable, with Curtis Jones chipping over Meret and the crossbar from a tight angle and later placing his header too high from Roberto Firmino’s backheel flick.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia posed a threat but Ibrahima Konate leant heavily enough on the Georgia international to force him off the ball in the penalty area. Napoli did eventually breach the Van Dijk-Konate partnership but their set-piece goal fell foul of a three-minute VAR review. Salah should have scored with an instinctive close-range volley late on but steered it into the hands of Meret. However, he did not pass up a second chance when it fell to him five minutes from time and Nunez then added a second. Former Aberdeen defender Calvin Ramsay made his first Liverpool appearance when he came on as an 87th-minute substitute.