UEFA Champions League 2019-20: Liverpool 1-1 Napoli: 3 Reasons why Liverpool drew the game

#2 Front three fails to have an impact

Liverpool FC v SSC Napoli: Group E - UEFA Champions League

The Liverpool front line has been on fire this season. Mohamed Salah was rested for the weekend’s game after an injury scare, but the Egyptian returned to the team against Napoli to reinstate Liverpool’s formidable attacking trio, alongside Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino. Unfortunately, the three of them had a quiet game.

Salah had a couple of great chances to score, but he could not work the Napoli goalkeeper. On a few other occasions, he was either crowded out or his shot was blocked. The Egyptian failed to have an impact in the final third as Liverpool struggled to create chances.

Sadio Mane kept the pressure on the visitors by closing down well in the final third, but apart from a penalty shout in the dying minutes of the first half that was turned down by the referee, the Senegalese international did little to impress.

Roberto Firmino also lacked the spark that usually holds the Liverpool frontline together. The Brazilian did display a few tricks and flicks but had an uncharacteristic off day in the end. He did have a shot cleared off the line in the 55th minute.

Liverpool had to depend on Lovren to get them back into the game and ultimately paid the price for their frontline’s lackluster display.