Liverpool player ratings as Joe Gomez and James Milner awful in Napoli humbling

NAPOLI 4-1 LIVERPOOL: The Reds were way off the pace in Naples, where they went three goals down by half-time and could have been on the receiving end of an even bigger defeat

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Napoli v Liverpool: Pictures

It would have needed more than the Hand of God to save Liverpool at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

The Reds were woeful as a sharper, slicker Napoli side exposed the flaws in their changed system to earn a deserved Champions League victory that could have been by more.

Piotr Zielinski opened the scoring with a penalty after a James Milner handball, Alisson then saved a second spot-kick from Victor Osimhen, Frank Zambo Anguissa fired in a slick second and Giovanni Simeone tapped in a third.

It was then four at the start of the second half as Zielinski scored again, and although Luis Diaz grabbed a consolation that was all Liverpool deserved.

Here’s how the Reds players rated.

Alisson Becker: 7

Alisson prevented a heavier defeat (

Image:

AFP via Getty Images)

Less than a minute had been played when Osimhen got through whatever that was in front of the Brazilian in the first half, and it was largely down to the goalkeeper that the forward was too wide to finish accurately. He must have known what was coming then.

The penalty stop at 1-0 had the chance to save the blushes of his teammates, who then collectively took those blushes and lathered them all over their faces. Couldn’t really do anything about the other goals.

Trent Alexander-Arnold: 4

Anyone capable of any rational thought knows that what is going on is a system thing, it’s just that some players suffer in the system more than others.

For years Alexander-Arnold has felt the benefit of that as he’s been allowed to redefine the role of right-back, but when it’s going wrong he can expect to have fingers pointed at him. *Points finger*

Joe Gomez: 2

He’s been good since he came back into the side. Very good at Everton at the weekend, in fact. But then, well… yeah.

At one point he seemed to forget just where the roving Osimhen was, which was almost always about five yards ahead of him and racing away. Also dealt with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the same manner most of us would pronounce his name.

Was taken off at half-time as an act of mercy.

Virgil van Dijk: 4

It is often seen as the mark of a true professional to carry on playing your game no matter what is happening, but this can have a negative effect too.

Van Dijk, for instance, plays every game as though Liverpool are a purring well-oiled machine in front of him, which they quite clearly aren’t.

He’s so calm and confident in himself that the Dutchman just goes about his business, almost unwilling to admit there are serious problems in front of him. Very serious ones.

Andy Robertson: 5

After the fourth he could be seen bellowing to his teammates about closing down the spaces in front of him, although he could also have done with following his own advice at times.

Like everyone else he just looks a little dizzied by what is going on around him at the moment.

Fabinho was overrun in midfield (

Image:

REUTERS)

Fabinho: 4

It’s going under the radar, but the Brazilian has been bad since the back end of last season – particularly so in the Champions League final.

Reaching such a stage won’t be on the agenda for this Liverpool side on this evidence though, and neither will much else unless the seemingly shattered ‘lighthouse’ gets a new bulb.

James Milner: 3

It is probably too much and a bit disrespectful to say that age has caught up with him, but right now every opposition player has.

At 36 Milner really shouldn’t be starting in tough matches such as this, just as he shouldn’t have in the defeat at Old Trafford, and while that has sometimes been forced upon Klopp due to injuries it really wasn’t here.

Gave away a penalty and was booked in the first half, and was lucky to even see the second.

Harvey Elliott: 6

Keeps going, and deserves credit for that, but as one of the players the system has changed for you can’t help but wonder if he feels a little bit guilty.

He’s got an excellent future obviously, but should he be starting every game at the moment?

Salah had another poor night (

Image:

AFP via Getty Images)

Mohamed Salah: 6

Again started the game in a position that looked like he was man-marking the right touchline, which is apparently what Liverpool want him to do now.

Was predictably barely involved as a result, although had a couple of chances where he should have done better in front of goal.

Roberto Firmino: 5

Was there, apparently. Although I can’t confirm.

Luis Diaz: 8

Liverpool’s best player by a long, long way, and their best outfield player by an even longer one.

The Colombian never stopped running, scored a fine goal and could have had another, and was the only bright spark among the blankness.

Substitutes:

Joel Matip, Thiago, Diogo Jota, Darwin Nunez, Arthur

Only Thiago stood out on his return to the side, and how Liverpool need him right now.