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Liverpool’s starting XI against Napoli in 2010 shows how far we have come under Klopp

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By Thomas Hein

Ryan Babel Liverpool

Liverpool face another tough test in the Champions League as we take on Napoli at Stadio San Paolo on Wednesday.

The Reds started their campaign with an incredible 3-2 win over PSG while the hosts drew with Red Star Belgrade.

Napoli won’t be pushovers as they lie second in the Serie A table and this isn’t the first time we would be playing against them. Although the Italians were beaten 5-0 by the Reds in pre-season, we faced them in 2010 during a Europa League clash.

This was a Roy Hodgson side that wasn’t all that great and if we compare the team from 2010 to the one we have now, there is a massive difference in quality.

Liverpool fight for a draw

That Napoli side had a number of quality players such as Mark Hamsik, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani while the starting line-up for the Reds, well, we can’t really say much for that.

Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Martin Skrtel and Steven Gerrard all started the game but the rest of the team weren’t all that great.

Paul Konchesky, Martin Kelly, Jay Spearing, Christian Poulsen, Jonjo Shelvey, Milan Jovanovic, David Ngog and Ryan Babel were our other starters.

We did see the likes of Joe Cole come on as a substitute but this line-up just shows how far we have come under Jurgen Klopp and FSG.

Jurgen Klopp & Xherdan Shaqiri

The Reds have a formidable team at the moment and it has been built meticulously by the German. Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino are incredible forwards while we have Daniel Sturridge and Xherdan Shaqiri too.

Our midfield is top-quality with the likes of Naby Keita, James Milner, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum fighting for starting berths. And some stars such as Adam Lallana, Joel Matip and Fabinho can’t get regular starts.

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Liverpool have come a long way and with summer recruits like Alisson in the team, we should be in a position to get all three points in Italy.