Liverpool v Napoli Preview: Important Europa Job for Sotirios Kyrgiakos

Posted Thursday, November 04, 2010 by sportinglife.aol.co.uk

EUROPA LEAGUE: ANFIELD, THURSDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2010. KICK OFF 2005 GMT

Liverpool are once again underlining how quickly life can change in the world of professional football.

A fortnight ago following the loss to rivals Everton, Liverpool seemed to be lurching from crisis to crisis, but new ownership and consecutive Premier League wins have brought some stability on and off the field.

Manager Roy Hodgson is no longer going into encounters filled with dread and worried about his own future and Liverpool have now lifted themselves out of the Premier League relegation zone and are up to 12th place.

The Europa League will always play second fiddle to domestic ambitions but regardless of that, a win against Napoli would help keep the new positive ball rolling and further the opinion that Liverpool can still salvage something from a season that started so disastrously.

Key Match-up: Sotirios Kyrgiakos v Marek Hamsik: The big Greek defender has been brilliant for Liverpool in recent weeks and won over many of his detractors. He will have his work cut out against Hamsik, though, who has admitted he cannot wait to play at Anfield, so he is likely to be charged with adrenaline and determined to make an impact.

Form Guide: Liverpool have had back-to-back Premier League wins against Blackburn Rovers and Bolton Wanderers to boost their confidence while Napoli beat Brescia at the weekend but lost to AC Milan in the tie before that to underline their current inconsistency.

Odds: Liverpool 2-1, Napoli 8-1, Draw 9-2.