Liverpool receive much needed boost ahead of Champions League clash with Napoli

Liverpool have received a huge boost ahead of their Champions League tie against Napoli on Wednesday night as Victor Osimhen is said to be a doubt for the game.

The Reds begin their pursuit of a seventh triumph in the competition with a trip to Southern Italy this week to face Luciano Spalletti’s side. 

Jurgen Klopp’s team have begun the season with inconsistency, lying in sixth in the Premier League, six points off leaders Arsenal. 

Saturday’s goalless draw with Merseyside rivals Everton would’ve been seen as a disappointment by Klopp and the German boss will be looking to rectify that result with a positive performance on the continent in midweek.

The Champions League has often served as a healthy distraction to domestic fixtures for the North West club in recent years, and they’ll be looking to win the competition after being beaten in last season’s final in Paris against Real Madrid.

Their opening fixture may have just been made a whole lot easier, with Calcio Mercato reporting now that Victor Osimhen is a doubt for the game at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. 

The Nigerian striker is reportedly carrying a slight injury and will face a late fitness test assessing his ability to feature against the Reds.

Osimhen is an integral part of Spalletti’s system, providing the focal point for the team to play around.

The 23-year-old scored 18 goals in 32 appearances across all competitions for Napoli last season, so his absence would represent a significant relief to the Liverpool defence.

Liverpool continue to be hindered with their own injury issues, with Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita, Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all expected to be out for this one.

Napoli and Liverpool have been drawn with Ajax and Rangers in Group A of the Champions League, a group stage which will be completed by the start of November in a congested fixture schedule accommodating for this winter’s World Cup in Qatar.