Champions League 2019-20: 5 talking points from Napoli's 2-0 win over Liverpool

#3 Koulibaly won the battle of the defenders

Virgil van Dijk could not help his side in the way that he wanted to

All eyes were on Virgil van Dijk and Kalidou Koulibaly tonight. They are considered to be two of the best defenders in the world.

Both players had impressive matches. Van Dijk was an imposing presence in the back four and snuffed out Napoli’s attacks with crucial tackles and blocks. However, his mistake in the dying moments of the game tainted the good work he had done before, and allowed the Italian club to finish off the game.

On the other hand, Koulibaly produced an almost perfect performance. It is not often that a defender draws loud cheers and applause from the crowd due to a tackle; the Senegalese effectively took Salah out of the game with a mixture of standing and slide tackles. He used his strength to retain possession for his side.

Koulibaly was also adventurous in attack, driving forward with the ball at some points. He played direct passes to midfield players or out wide to the wingers.

Koulibaly's versatility was on full display, and that versatility is the reason why many clubs, including Manchester United, were tracking him in the summer. Overall, Koulibaly outshone Van Dijk in this match with a solid performance.