Liverpool v Napoli predictions: Kvaratskhelia could continue good form

Konate may be tailor-made for Reds' set-piece threat

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has looked lively for NapoliCredit: Insidefoto

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Liverpool v Napoli in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Where to watch

BT Sports 3 & BT Sport Ultimate, Tuesday 8pm

Best bets

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to score or assist
2pts 6-4 Betfair, Paddy Power

Ibrahima Konate to score at any time
1pt 14-1 Hills

Team news

Liverpool
Arthur, Joel Matip, Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlian remain out for this game. Ibrahima Konate should return. Calvin Ramsay could make his Reds debut.

Napoli
Salvatore Sirigu and Amir Rrahmani are out, while Luciano Spalletti may rotate given his side as they are already through to the knockout stages.

Match preview

Liverpool suffered another defeat this season at home to Leeds on Saturday and face an unenviable task as they aim to top Champions League Group A.

The Reds must beat Napoli 4-0 if they are to usurp the Italians at the top of the table and the visitors have been the form team in Europe this season, winning their last 13 games in a row, with an aggregate score of 40-10 in that run.

The reverse fixture was a poor performance from Jurgen Klopp’s side, who were beaten 4-1 and also saw their opponents miss a penalty and hit the post.

Just two games later a 3-3 draw with Brighton saw the German manager ditch the 4-3-3 formation that had been the cornerstone of this Liverpool team since he took over seven years ago.

It has become clear that midfield is a major issue for the Reds, who have been forced through injury to rely on players who are either inexperienced in the position - Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones - or appear to no longer possess the physical capabilities to play there under Klopp - James Milner and Fabinho.

In contrast, midfield has been a position of strength for Napoli this season and former Fulham man Andre-Frank Anguissa in particular thrived in the first game between this pair.

Georgian Kvicha Kvaratskhelia has also thrust himself into the spotlight in this campaign, registering eight goals and eight assists in 15 starts in all competitions.

The 6-4 with Paddy Power for the 21-year-old to register either a goal or an assist in this encounter makes plenty of appeal given his growing influence in Napoli’s impressive attacking output.

There have been suggestions that both teams could rotate given progress to the knockout stage is confirmed and both sides face crucial clashes at the weekend.

Napoli visit Atalanta, who trail them by five points in second place in Serie A, while Liverpool travel to take on fellow top-four hopefuls Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.

One player who has returned to fitness for the Reds and could benefit from any rotation is Ibrahima Konate.

The Frenchman made something of a habit of scoring from corners in cup competitions last season, scoring a pair of headers in the Champions League and one in his side’s FA Cup semi-final win over Manchester City.

Threat from set pieces is one element of Liverpool’s play that they have retained despite their downturn in form, scoring from a corner in three of their last four Champions League games.

As a result the 14-1 about Konate scoring at any time looks generous