NAPLES, Italy -- Liverpool may consider losing 2-0 late on to Napoli in the Champions League at Stadio San Paolo as a good omen. After all, despite delivering their most deficient performance of last season in a 1-0 defeat here nearly a year ago, Jurgen Klopp's side went on to become Europe's best.
As was the case in 2018-19, Tuesday's trip to southern Italy represented the club's first away test on the continent. And while the arena and the opponents were the same, the manner of Liverpool's display was in stark contrast to the passive, blunt showing of 349 days ago.