Liverpool’s Champions League defence began with another defeat at Napoli.

The hosts took the lead courtesy of a penalty from Dries Mertens after Andy Robertson was adjudged to have tripped Jose Callejon in the area.

Jurgen Klopp’s side fell further behind in stoppage time when Fernando Llorente pounced on a stray pass from Virgil van Dijk to Robertson to slot beyond Adrian.

Here were the key talking points from the Stadio San Paolo:

Same old at the San Paolo

 

No reigning European champion has begun their defence with a loss in 25 years. Liverpool, however, are no strangers to defying football’s many conventions.

They were crowned Champions League winners on the back of four away defeats in last season’s tournament so will not dwell too heavily on another to Napoli.

The Stadio San Paolo has never been a happy hunting ground for the Reds. A third win-less outings carried similarities with their previous one, 10 months ago.

Jurgen Klopp’s side did enough to weather the storm for large parts against the Partonopei but lacked a cutting edge which exposed them to a late onslaught.

Omens tend to come into play whenever Liverpool in Europe is concerned and based on this outcome, a seventh continental crown could be in the offing.

Mane and Salah still out of sync

 

All still does not appear to be well between Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

In truth, two-thirds of Liverpool’s attack weren’t in perfect sync at regular intervals of the previous campaign and appear to still be enduring those issues.

But it is not the fallout from their recent disagreement at Burnley, which Mane insisted had been ‘forgotten’ on the eve of this game, which is behind it.

Early-season teething problems were at the heart of the Senegal international and Salah’s lack of cohesion rather than any bad blood from events at Turf Moor.

A second half counter-attack should have produced a breakthrough for the visitors as Mane proceeded to bear down on Napoli’s goal at speed.

Yet his sense of timing in teeing up Salah was off-key.

In time, the pair will again strike up the understanding which made them a fearsome combination but it is definitely not for a current lack of trying.

Fabinho: the great destroyer

 

Widespread acclaim for Fabinho’s performances, like Roberto Firmino, have tended to be limited to the confines of Anfield during recent months.

Those perceptions may soon be shifting for the Brazilian midfielder, as it has done for his compatriot of late, after yet another stellar showing.

Fabinho did not merely ride out Napoli’s threat through the middle but also produced several vital interceptions that allowed the visitors to counter.

The reasons why Klopp made the 25-year-old his first signing barely 72 hours after the 2018 Champions League final defeat are becoming increasingly clear.

At the start of last season, Naby Keita appeared to be the perfect amalgam between Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano in Liverpool’s midfielder.

But the Guinean’s fellow summer recruit is now proving the great enforcer.

VAR shows itself up… again

 

Cynics argued that Liverpool would prosper more than most from VAR.

After a second contentious penalty decision went against them in as many games, it might be time for that conspiracy to be urgently reviewed.

Andy Robertson’s challenge on Jose Callejon was adjudged to be a foul by referee Felix Brych, yet it was not the incident itself which was challenged.

VAR deemed that Brych’s ruling had not been a ‘clear and obvious’ error and allowed to stand on those grounds alone as Dries Mertens opened the scoring.

No one said that the techonology would be perfect but the way it is currently being enacted at elite-level football poses a lot more questions than it answers.