Liverpool vs. Newcastle
| Tuesday, September 17th |
Champions League | San Paolo Stadium
8:300PM BST / 3:00PM EST
We go again. June 1st was the greatest day of some of our lives, but that’s last season. The quest for Liverpool’s 7th European Cup starts tomorrow when they take on Napoli in the first game of the Champions League group stage. A familiar opponent for the Reds, as Napoli were in Liverpool’s group last season. The away fixture in Naples last year was dreadful for Liverpool and provided a low point in an otherwise incredible season.
Projected Liverpool Lineup (4-3-3)
Adrián; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Milner; Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson; Mané, Firmino, Salah
There’s a bit of a fitness doubt regarding Andy Robertson, so I’m predicting that Milner gets the start at LB just to be safe.
This Liverpool team loves to exercise past demons. They get the opportunity to do so when they travel to Naples. We know last year was bad. We know we’re even better than that now. Whether its the Eithad, Wembley, or the Champions League final, this team loves to return to the scene of some of their most embarrassing moments and vanquish their doubters. I fully expect Liverpool to show up to The San Paolo ready to achieve this.
What the Managers Said
Jürgen Klopp: “We cannot be the best team in Europe because Man City are the best team in the world. And that’s the same planet.”
Carlo Ancelotti: “I am tied to the Reds with some of my biggest disappointments, in ’84 and 2005, but also the joys of victories. But it is a team that inspires me, playing at Anfield is always exciting for the unique environment that they create.”
The Officials
Referee: Felix Brych
Assistant referees: Mark Borsch, Stefan Lupp
Fourth official: Martin Petersen
VAR: Bastian Dankert
Assistant VAR: Marco Fritz
Kickoff is set for 8:00PM GMT/3:00PM EST tomorrow, and television listings for the match can be found on LiveSoccerTV.
In the meantime, and as always, we’ll be keeping you updated with all the buildup to the game, including team news as it’s released, our live matchday thread, and post-match recaps from The Liverpool Offside staff. If you want to join the discussion, sign up for an SB Nation account to have your say on the action as it happens.