DON’T GET CAUGHT NAPPING
Rafa warns Kop: Ancelotti ’s men up f or it Barcelona v Tottenham, Liverpool v Napoli
Neil Moxley
RAFA BENITEZ has warned Liverpool that Napoli won’t be fazed by anything a red-hot Anfield can throw at them.
The ex- Reds’ chief believes neither Carlo Ancelotti (below) nor his players will be cowed in a game that is vital to both clubs’ chances of progressing in the Champions League.
Benitez himself came through a nerve-jangling final group game 14 years ago after Steven Gerrard inspired a famous victory over Olympiakos en route to the Miracle of Istanbul.
And the Spaniard, who managed Napoli for two seasons before leaving for Real Madrid in 2015, believes that while the Reds are making good progress under Jurgen Klopp they still need to be careful on Tuesday night.
He said: “It will be a fantastic atmosphere at Anfield – it always is – and Champions League nights are even better, so it will be difficult for Napoli.
“But Carlo Ancelotti has experience of operating at this level. And he has players such as defender Raul Albiol, wingers Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens, playmaker Marek Hamsik and striker Lorenzo Insigne who will not be worried about any noise. However, it’s also a difficult game for Liverpool. Napoli are playing well in Serie A. Under Ancelotti, the players are comfortable in different systems.
“For me, one key could be the counter-attack. Liverpool will be on the front foot from the beginning and Mertens, Insigne or Callejon are tricky customers with their movement and pace.
“Both teams need to win which makes it even more interesting. “But Napoli will know what it means. In my first season there we won 12 points, yes 12, and didn’t go through.
“It was the first time a team with that number of points hadn’t qualified and I can still remember the faces after the last game.
“It was hard to take. And a lot of those players are still there. They will know what it means.”
Benitez signed the likes of Mertens and Callejon for Napoli but arguably his most potentially-lucrative capture was that of centre- half Kalidou Koulibaly from
Genk for £7million – now a £75million target for Chelsea. The Newcastle boss added: “Koulibaly has all the potential to do well in England. He’s quick, can use both feet and he is good in the air.
“Having worked with him, what was good was that he was open to improvement.”
Benitez also expects the Reds, under Klopp, to lift silverware – but admits he cannot pinpoint when.
He said: “Liverpool have the potential to win trophies – and I honestly think they will. When that will be in the future, I don’t know but they have years ahead of them.”