UEFA CL: Napoli 2 - 0 Liverpool - Van Dijk's error sink Liverpool to defeat in Champions League opener

Napoli cruised past defending champions, Liverpool in the opening fixture of the UEFA Champions at the Stadio San Paolo.

The hosts struck twice in the final moments to clinch victory on matchday one as Dries Martens first converted from the penalty spot on 82 minutes before Fernando Llorente struck 10 minutes later.

Lorenzo Insigne started for Napoli after remaining on the bench for their 2-0 win over Sampdoria at the weekend. Allan replaced Elif Elmas and Kostas Manolas, whose goal for former club Roma famously knocked out Barcelona in 2018.

Jurgen Klopp made three changes for Liverpool tonight, with Roberto Firmino restored following Divock Origi's injury, and some big changes in midfield with James Milner and Jordan Henderson recalled, leaving Georginio Wijnaldum and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench.

The first corner of the game came the way of Liverpool when Jordan Henderson pinged a ball into the right channel, which Salah run to. He hit first to Rui but the defender did well to use his strength to stop him getting away and when he got into the box, he combined with Koulibaly to block the ball behind.

Napoli came close to scoring in the 7-minute. Insigne rolled the ball back to Ruiz on the left corner of the box and whacked it low towards the near post where Adrian got near very well to save. It only set up the midfielder for another goal and again Adrian got down to keep him out before Lozano nodded the second rebound into the corner but the offside flag was up against him.

The game was a balanced one for the two sides yet Sadio Mane kept hustling in front of the Napoli defense for the break. A lovely pass from Henderson curling into the Senegalese unmarked path but a heavy touch took him wide of Meret’s area. He still had a go from the tight angle as the young keeper saved with his legs at the expense of a corner.

Mario Ruiz tight marked Salah and the Egyptian was held confined from making any remarkable impact.

Adrian made the most impressive save in the early stage of the second half on Martens decent chance at goal. The Liverpool goalkeeper was already diving towards the ball, which seem to be flying over him into the net. Somehow, he hanged in the air and lifted his arm straight up to tip the ball over.

Milner received a yellow in the 61-minute after a tackle on Callejon.

Mohamed Salah nearly registered his name on the scoresheet through a Manolas error. Koulibaly headed a ball up in the air after collecting a tackle from Salah behind the edge of the box. Minolas air kicked it clear and allowed Salah in. it was not from the angle he would like , and on his left side but he managed to pull a very smart save from Meret as he got to tip his effort round the post for a corner.

Napoli was awarded a questionable penalty after a foul in the box on Callejon. The Spaniard turned inside of Robertson in the yard and went down after a touch on him. Adrian got his hand to Merten’s low strike down to his right but there was too much power on it and it nestled in the bottom corner.

Virgil Van Dijk's error in additional time sunk the Reds in their own half. The Dutchman tried to work his way out of trouble under pressure from Mertens. He got pass across to Matip all wrong, teeing up Llorente in the process. He run straight unto the loose ball before tucking it under Adrian to seal victory.