When Liverpool started their best phase, the game was already decided. Luis Diaz placed a shot worth seeing in the right corner. Still, there was no real hope. It was just the consolation goal to make it 4-1 (49th). In the 48 minutes before, Jürgen Klopp’s team had experienced a debacle that could not be repaired afterwards. In the end it was 1: 4 (0: 3) at SSC Napoli at the start of the Champions League.

Especially in the first half, Liverpool had no chance. Victor Osimhen, who was very conspicuous until he was substituted due to injury, could have put the Italians ahead in the first minute. He rounded Liverpool keeper Alisson, but only hit the side netting. The lead then brought a hand penalty, which Piotr Zielinski converted (6th). James Milner got the ball on his arm.

It could have been worse early on. Virgil van Dijk conceded another penalty, but the foul was denied by Alisson. Napoli continued to surprise the Reds with a lot of offensive power. André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (31st) made it 2-0. This was preceded by a loss of the ball by the lethargic Joe Gomez – symbolic of the Reds’ body language in this phase. Giovanni Simeone (44′) and Zielinski again (47′) made the end of the game perfect early on. Diaz’s brief gasp came too late. “Unfortunately, we deserved this result. They found so much space, it felt like they had an extra man,” Liverpool defender Andy Robertson told BT Sport.

After a mixed start to the season in the English Premier League with only nine points from six games, Jürgen Klopp has now started even worse in the Champions League. Against Ajax Amsterdam, who started 4-0 (3-0) against Glasgow Rangers, next Tuesday (9 p.m. / DAZN) Klopp is already under pressure. “We have to position ourselves better in pretty much every area. We didn’t work as a team,” complained the 55-year-old.

Robert Lewandowski, on the other hand, showed his top class for FC Barcelona in the 5-1 (3-1) win over Viktoria Pilsen with three goals (34th minute/45th 3/67th) before the duel on Tuesday at his former club FC Bayern Munich .

The Pole scored six, seven and eight goals in his fifth competitive game for FC Barcelona and confirmed his top form. He is the third player to score a hat-trick in the Champions League for three clubs. He managed one for Borussia Dortmund and four for Bayern Munich. Franck Kessié (13th) and Ferran Torres (71st) scored the other Barca goals.