The Champions League is back and Wednesday serves us up an exciting clash between Napoli and Liverpool. Napoli started their season well and sit second in Serie A. Last year’s beaten Champions League finalists Liverpool have started the season poorly but have the quality to improve.
With two attacking teams on display, we’re ready for a big game and our best bet is a huge +1,000 pick. Don’t miss our Napoli vs. Liverpool tips and predictions.
Napoli vs Liverpool best odds
Napoli vs Liverpool picks and predictions
The loss of Sadio Mane has perhaps been more impactful than some expected for Liverpool. Part of that could be due to his replacement, Darwin Nunez, missing some time with suspension. Jurgen Klopp can rightly be pleased with the grit shown against Newcastle in winning in the last minute but they don’t look as fearsome as the past three seasons. If there was ever a time that Napoli would want to face them, it is now.
Napoli have been in incredible form this year, scoring 12 and conceding just four in Serie A, and Luciano Spalletti will send his team out in a 4-3-3 to match Liverpool.
Napoli’s star striker Victor Osimhen might start from the bench or even miss the game, but Napoli have an ace up their sleeve: 21-year-old Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. In five appearances in Serie A, he’s already scored four goals and assisted another.
Kvaratskhelia plays on the left of Napoli’s attack, which leaves him in a battle against Trent Alexander-Arnold, who has struggled at points this season. Napoli will target that flank and the channels between Joe Gomez and Alexander-Arnold. Kvaratskhelia can exploit that attack in those spaces.
That matchup, combined with his great form, makes him a great bet to score in this game. The odds of an anytime goal are +350, which are well worth taking, as is my best bet of Kvaratskhelia to score first at a huge +1,000.
Going back into last season, Liverpool have conceded the first goal in six of their past eight Premier League games. It’s clear that isn’t just a freak occurrence. If they start slowly in front of a fearsome Neapolitan crowd, then that gives Napoli a great chance to score early, therefore making Kvaratskhelia a great bet for the first goal at +1,000.
My best bet: Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to score first (+1,000 at bet365)
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Napoli vs Liverpool betting preview
Jump to:
•Side analysis •Over/Under analysis •Game info •Injuries •Weather
Side analysis
As much as Liverpool have struggled this season, they are still a team with a brilliant coach and incredible group of players. Their habit of conceding the first goal is very concerning and I think they’re likely to concede against Napoli, even with the Italian team potentially missing their best player Victor Osimhen. I’m confident that this game is when Kvaratskhelia will truly announce himself to the world, but I’m not sure that will be enough for Napoli to grab three points.
As good as the home team’s defense has been this season, they’re yet to face a team with the quality of attacking talent possessed by Liverpool. If, as I suspect, Liverpool are chasing a Napoli lead, then they have the ability of bringing on Darwin and Diogo Jota alongside Luis Diaz, Mohammed Salah, and Roberto Firmino. That’s an incredible amount of quality and I believe it’ll be too much for Napoli to deny.
In all likelihood, Liverpool will win this but it’s by no means a certainty. That said, it’s always very hard to not bet on Liverpool when their odds are getting close to +100.
Over/Under analysis
We’re still early into the season, so the sample size isn’t the biggest, but it’s easy to see this game being high-scoring, especially given Liverpool’s rare defensive problems.
The Over has landed in 66.7% of Liverpool’s domestic road games this season and they are surely too good on the attack for Napoli to keep a clean sheet.
Napoli have had Over 2.5 goals in 60% of their games this season, scoring in all but one game. These are two talented teams and, with a lot of great attacking players, we can expect goals.
Napoli vs Liverpool game info
• Location: Diego Armando Maradona, Napoli, Italy
• Date: Wednesday, September 7, 2022
• Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
• TV: DAZN
Napoli vs Liverpool key injuries
Napoli: Diego Demme CDM (Out), Hirving Lozano FWR (Questionable), Victor Osimhen STR (Questionable).
Liverpool: Ibrahima Konate CB (Out), Naby Keita CM (Out), Thiago Alcantara CM (Questionable), Alex Oxlade Chamberlain CM (Out), Jordan Henderson CM (Out), Fabio Carvalho FWR (Questionable).
Napoli vs Liverpool weather
A sunny day in Southern Italy will mean that temperatures should be around 80 degrees when this game kicks off.
