LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, September 14, 2019: Liverpool's Roberto Firmino during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Newcastle United FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Confirmed Liverpool lineup vs. Napoli: Firmino returns, Robertson fit to start

Jurgen Klopp has restored Roberto Firmino to his starting lineup as Liverpool prepare to begin their Champions League defence away to Napoli tonight.

The Brazilian leads the line alongside Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane at Stadio San Paolo, after his tide-turning substitute appearance against Newcastle.

He is one of three changes Klopp has made to his side in Naples, for a clash which the manager believes “if you don’t defend with all we have then we have no chance.”

Adrian makes his Champions League bow, behind a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson.

In midfield, Fabinho anchors the trio, to be flanked by Jordan Henderson and James Milner.

They will support Salah, Mane and Firmino in attack, with the front three in excellent form heading into this Group E opener.

Despite injury to Divock Origi there is no place for Rhian Brewster on the substitutes’ bench, with the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Xherdan Shaqiri making up Klopp’s reserves.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, Klopp stressed that this would be a difficult test as Liverpool aim for a strong start back in Europe.

“We want to be as consistent as last year, but play our football from this year. It’s just ‘do your best’ all the time,” he told reporters.

“Last year we learned from one game to the next game and we have to use that experience because if you don’t defend with all we have then we have no chance against Napoli, they are so strong.

“They are stubborn in a positive way. They play football, they break lines, they have good counter-attacks, they are creative.

“I enjoy it when I analyse Napoli. I like to watch them.”

Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Manolas, Koulibaly, Mario Rui; Callejon, Allan, Fabian Ruiz, Insigne; Mertens, Lozano

Substitutes: Ospina, Maksimovic, Milik, Ghoulam, Elmas, Zielinski, Llorente

Liverpool: Adrian; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Milner; Salah, Mane, Firmino

Substitutes: Kelleher, Lovren, Gomez, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Shaqiri

Read all our build-up and previews on the This Is Anfield app for iPhone and Android. There'll also be reaction, analysis and videos after full-time. Click here to get it for free.