Napoli 2-0 Liverpool: 5 Hits and Flops

#1 Hit: Kalidou Koulibaly

Koulibaly regularly came out on top in duels against Firmino and Mane as Napoli earned a clean sheet

Kalidou Koulibaly was immense as usual for a Napoli backline who were unsurprisingly tested by Liverpool's frontline. However, with the towering Senegalese international marshaling the hosts' defense, you could see Jurgen Klopp's men consciously taking that extra half-second in possession and he was motivated by that.

Completing countless interceptions and ball recoveries over the 90 minutes, he thwarted Mane and Roberto Firmino in particular regularly while timing his aggressive flurries into midfield well during a match he certainly needed to.

He hasn't played alongside new acquisition Kostas Manolas too often and their differences in defensive style were apparent - something to watch out for, as there were a few heart-in-mouth moments when Liverpool had sustained attacking pressure.

If you didn't already know, it's individual displays like these which justify why Napoli rate him so highly and why most of Europe's top clubs are tirelessly linked with his signature. He prevailed in the battle of world-class defenders against UEFA Men's Player of the Year winner Virgil van Dijk!