Ancelotti: 'Liverpool can be controlled'

By Football Italia staff

Carlo Ancelotti explained his tactical choices after the 1-1 draw with Liverpool. “They have quality, but become more controllable in reduced spaces.”

Dries Mertens saw his early strike cancelled out by Dejan Lovren’s header on a corner, but it was perhaps asking too much to get a win at Anfield, where Liverpool haven’t lost in Europe for five years.

“It’s not easy to get a draw here. We suffered under pressure and began to defend too deep, but there’s no other way to emerge alive from Anfield. We emerged alive and that’s the important thing,” Ancelotti told Sky Sport Italia.

“It was a good evening, we got a point and remain in the running for both qualification and the top spot in the group.”

The Partenopei have done very well in Europe this season, as it is in Serie A where they have stuttered.

“I remain surprised not by these performances in the Champions League, but by the Serie A games where we haven’t been as concentrated or committed. That is certainly a limitation we have, we need to work on it, but this result and performance can help us get away from a difficult moment.

“This is a healthy club, within the locker room and with the desire of everyone to get out of this moment. There has been a lot of criticism, but substantially I feel we all ought to be more objective.

“There are always going to be difficult moments in football, but we are on the right track and it’s important not to lose our heads.

“I spoke to the President, he was very happy with everyone and congratulated us all on the performance.”

Di Lorenzo was a surprise starter in place of Jose Callejon on the left side of midfield.

“We changed the players, but not the basic structure of the team. Di Lorenzo played wide on the left when we had the ball, then got back to help the midfield in a 4-4-2 when defending.

“Liverpool have enormous quality, but they become more controllable when they are forced to play within reduced spaces.”

The Reds now have 10 points, Napoli nine (and they host bottom club Genk last), with RB Salzburg on seven.

It means Napoli only need a point against Genk to be sure of qualification and can still hope for the top spot, because if they all finish on 10 points, Carlo Ancelotti’s side have the upper hand in the head-to-head records.

Watch Serie A live in the UK on Premier Sports for just £9.99 per month including live LaLiga, Eredivisie, Scottish Cup Football and more. Visit: https://www.premiersports.com/subscribenow