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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Nathan Bliss

We simulated Liverpool vs Napoli to get a score prediction for Champions League clash

Liverpool will be hoping to bounce back from their weekend defeat to Leeds United, as the Reds take on Napoli in the Champions League in midweek.

Liverpool have a good record in this season's Champions League, having won four and lost one of their games in the competition so far. But, Jurgen Klopp 's side face a Napoli side who inflicted their only defeat in Europe so far, with the Italian side securing a comprehensive 4-1 win back in September.

Napoli are on a sensational run and will be a tough test for Liverpool on Tuesday, with Luciano Spalletti's side winning their last 13 consecutive games in all competitions, including a 4-0 win over Sassuolo in Serie A last weekend. But, Reds boss Klopp has hinted that he could rotate his squad against the Italian side.

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Arthur, Joel Matip, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota are all ruled out through injury, and despite their return to full fitness, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are ineligible as they haven't been included in Liverpool's Champions League squad.

So, what will the final score be? We simulated the game to find out.

We simulated Liverpool vs Napoli to get a score prediction

To complete this simulation, we used FIFA 23 and updated the squads with the latest injuries and suspensions.

We predict that Liverpool could line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with their line-up as follows: Alisson, Ramsay, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Milner, Fabinho; Salah, Carvalho, Jones; Nunez.

We predict that Napoli could set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with their line-up as follows: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Min-Jae, Olivera; Ndombele, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Raspadori, Kvaratskhelia.

This simulated game started at a frantic pace, with both sides trying to score an early goal, but both defences survived the initial onslaught. As the game settled down though, it was Liverpool who were controlling the game through possession.

And their dominance paid off in the 34th minute, with Mohamed Salah scoring the opening goal.

Kostas Tsimikas went on a fantastic run on the left, skipping past a full-back before wipping a cross into the box at high speed. Salah did well to get ahead of his marker at the back post, with the Egyptian volleying it past Meret to make it 1-0.

In the second half, Napoli were much-improved but didn't really create many chances, whilst Liverpool had a number of chances to increase their lead, with Darwin Nunez and Fabio Carvalho guilty of missing good chances.

And the Reds paid for their poor finishing when Napoli grabbed an unlikely goal with five minutes remaining through striker Giacomo Raspadori.

Tanguy Ndombele beat Milner in the middle of the pitch before playing a brilliant pass that found the run of the Italian striker, who fired across Alisson and made it 1-0.

Liverpool pushed forward in the final minutes but couldn't break through Napoli's defence, with the Serie A side maintaining their unbeaten run in the competition.

FIFA 23 predicted final score: Liverpool 1-1 Napoli

Here are the full-time match stats.

FIFA 23 predicted final score: Liverpool 1-1 Napoli (EA SPORTS FIFA)

FIFA 23 predicts that Liverpool could create a whole host of chances against Napoli on Tuesday evening, but will have to be clinical in front of goal against the Italians, who are more than capable of scoring at Anfield this midweek. With the Italian side on such a good run, Klopp's likely rotated side will have to be at their best against the Serie A outfit.

What do you think the final score will be? Let us know in the comments below.

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