All you need is Lov to get Liverpool out of trouble
DEJAN LOVREN spared out-of-sorts Liverpool’s blushes at Anfield but the Champions League holders must still survive a final-day shoot-out in Salzburg to keep a grip on their crown.
It will all boil down to the final game of Group E in Austria as Red Bull Salzburg’s victory at Genk means Jurgen Klopp’s side will need to avoid defeat to secure a last-16 spot.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Napoli beat the Reds in Italy in September as well as in last year’s group stages and another win was on the cards when they broke the deadlock. That came after the hosts, who face a minimum of nine games in December, had suffered a 19th-minute blow when Fabinho limped off.
They fell behind two minutes later when Giovanni di Lorenzo played a lovely pass for Dries Mertens to chase and finish with a low shot across Alisson and inside the far post from the tightest of angles.
VAR checked to see if Virgil van Dijk had been fouled by Mertens in the build-up and there was then a further review to see if the striker was offside but the goal was allowed to stand.
Liverpool were far from their best and a frustrated Klopp was booked for dissent before James Milner forced a superb save from Alex Meret.
The Reds were brighter after the break and Kalidou Koulibaly had to clear Roberto Firmino’s effort off his line after Meret flapped at a cross.
Mohamed Salah and Firmino failed to convert decent chances before Lovren eased the Kop’s growing tension by heading in a Milner centre.
The Reds failed to add a winner but will go through if they gain a point and victory will see them win the group.