Advantage Liverpool as Napoli could be without star striker for UCL opener

Napoli ace Victor Osimhen is a major doubt to face Liverpool

According to Sky Italia (h/t Liverpool Echo), Liverpool have been provided with a major advantage in their opening UEFA Champions League clash with Italian side Napoli, with the club’s star striker Victor Osimhen a major doubt for the fixture.

Napoli under manager Maurizio Sarri has started the 2022/23 Serie A season in sublime fashion and is currently sitting second in the league. Forward Victor Osimhen has been in great form with two goals

and one assist in five games and is integral to the team set-up, hence leaving a big hole in his absence.

Victor Osimhen picked up a minor injury in Napoli’s comeback win over Lazio and did not train with the team ahead of the clash. With Hirvino Lozano also a doubt, Napoli could be there for the taking with injuries to two key players.

The beginning of the season has seen us be on the receiving end of multiple injuries to first-team players and it is good to be on the positive end of it once.

Another keynote would be the return of Diogo Jota and hopefully Thiago Alcantara to the fold which would provide us with much greater flexibility in midfield and attack.

With the new signing Arthur Melo hoping to settle in quickly, suddenly Jurgen Klopp has a much larger pool of top players to choose from and this would give us a much-needed advantage heading into a hectic list of fixtures.

Liverpool had an exceptional 2021/22 season and narrowly missed out on the Premier League title and Champions League trophy and Jurgen Klopp would be looking to take that extra step to win the trophies this season.

It is imperative that we start our European campaign with a strong performance in a group that consists of Ajax and last year’s Europa finalist Rangers alongside Napoli.

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In no way, it is an easy group to sail through to the knockout rounds and we would have to be at our best to gain an advantage.

Even after the disappointing draw against Everton, there is optimism amongst the Reds faithful for us to start challenging on all fronts again and a win against Napoli would certainly add to that momentum.