Alisson vows Liverpool won’t look back on the heartbreak of last year’s Champions League final as the Reds prepare to start this year’s competition against Napoli amid a lackluster domestic form
- Alisson Becker insisted Liverpool are out of the Champions League injured
- The Reds lost 1-0 to Real Madrid in the 2020/21 final in Paris earlier this year
- Jurgen Klopp’s side begin their new season at Napoli on Wednesday
- They’re in poor form at home but it’s a chance for them to make their mark
Paris in May is a memory that is proving difficult to postpone for Liverpool.
The club’s 10th European Cup final was a miserable affair from start to finish, with the frustration of losing to Real Madrid compounded by the horrible events outside the Stade de France.
For all that dazzled Liverpool last season, there is a nagging feeling that they failed to show their true selves against Real, and UEFA’s technical report released last month argued that the impact of a long season is leaving them in game would have caught up with No. 63 .
Liverpool lost 1-0 to Real Madrid in last year’s Champions League final in Paris
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has insisted Liverpool will not look back on the final
Jurgen Klopp said after that 1-0 defeat that fans should “book their hotels” for Istanbul next June. He was so determined to make things right but no extra motivation is needed for any of his players when they return to European action in Napoli.
Alisson Becker arrived at Anfield in 2018 after a Champions League final defeat and he feels the same focus to go one better. While it’s too early to make such statements – not least because Liverpool’s form has been erratic – the goalkeeper is positive.
“The day after the final was really difficult because you’re frustrated with the result and you didn’t get your trophy, the main goal,” said Alisson. “But in the end we are footballers, we are professional players. We have to deal with that.
Klopp urged Liverpool fans to ‘book their hotels’ after the defeat at the end of last season.
“It’s really hard, but I’ve learned to deal with it since I was a little boy. It’s part of the competition, win or lose. As a player you have to react directly to it. I went to the Brazilian national team and after the first game I didn’t think about the final anymore.
“We can try to use that as extra motivation, but we don’t need to. Being here, playing in the Champions League against a big club like Napoli in a really difficult group stage, is motivation enough for us.”
Liverpool will certainly not be thinking about the final next year. They face Napoli who have been struggling to find a rhythm domestically but maybe things will improve now Klopp is getting reinforcements again.
Thiago Alcantara is fit again for the first time in four weeks and traveled to Naples
Napoli have had a positive start to the season and are unbeaten in Serie A so far
The Brazil international has been a shining light in Liverpool’s poor start to the season
Thiago Alcantara is fit for the first time in four weeks and new signing Arthur Melo is pushing for the inclusion after being an unused substitute in Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Everton.
Klopp, who will be without skipper Jordan Henderson until after the international break with a hamstring injury against Newcastle, playfully looked for omens last night and smiled as he said a draw against Napoli usually ends with his side reaching the final.
His mood changed when a local reporter asked him if he thought Naples was a dangerous city – Liverpool’s advice for traveling fans was to stay close to their hotels – arguing that it was impossible for him to answer the question as he was the only one never visited as a tourist.
Jurgen Klopp’s mood changed in the press conference when he was asked if Naples was a safe place
Henderson is out with a hamstring injury until after the international break
One thing he does know, however, is that his side haven’t turned up properly every time they’ve played here. That’s something, he concedes, that needs to change.
“To play better than my previous three times here would help,” he said. “But I’m a late bloomer. Just take a look.’
Expected Lineups:
Naples (4-3-3): Merett; Di Lorenzo, Kim, Rrahmani, Rui; Zielinski, Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka; Lozano, Osimhen, Kvarachelia.
Liverpool (4-3-3) Alison; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Thiago, Fabinho, Arthur; Salah, Firmino, Diaz.
