Napoli against Liverpool

At least they got one of them on.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif">Napoli sub: Yebda on, Gargano off

Confusion on the Napoli bench after they are not allowed to make a double substitution.

Liverpool are frustrating the home side at the moment with a sustained period of possession that ends with Ngog turning well in the box and seeing his shot blocked. Liverpool corner.

Great play by Joe Cole moments after coming on. He dispossesses Cannavaro with a sliding tackle and almost finds Ngog with the cross. That's just what Liverpool need. Desire.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif">Liverpool sub: Cole on, Babel off

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif">Napoli sub: Zuniga on, Maggio off

163 minutes into John W. Henry's reign of Liverpool and they still haven't scored! They have less than 20 minutes left here to break the duck, but I wouldn't count on it.

But they don't. De Sanctis is fouled and the home side can breathe again.

Liverpool have won a freak corner. Chance to punish Napoli here...

Babel was set up on a plate by Jovanovic, not, er, Babel.

Babel misses a golden opportunity after he is set up on a plate by Babel, but De Sanctis saves with his feet. Poor by Babel, and Liverpool won't get a better chance than that.

Dossena croses from the left and Skrtel concedes another corner. Liverpool under the cosh.

...cleared by Poulsen.

Hamsik wins a Napoli corner. They are cranking up the pressure...

Kelly crosses from the right for Ngog, who can only find De Sanctis with a tame header.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif">Liverpool sub: Aurelio on, Konchesky off

Napoli still the more likely to score but they are struggling to pick out the runs of Cavani with their final ball.

The news on Jamie Carragher is that he's not injured. Hodgson wants to rest him for the Premier League game against Blackburn on the weekend.

Lavezzi causing trouble again for Konchesky. Lavezzi is causing havoc down there.

Great header by Cavani which goes marginally wide with Reina beaten. A free header for the Uruguayan and he'll be disappointed he didn't hit the target there. Napoli getting closer.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15">Napoli's <b>Pazienza</b> is booked for booting Spearing in the mouth. Not nice, but he's gingerly back on his feet.

Napoli seem to have identified Liverpool right-back Martin Kelly as the weak link, with Lavezzi and Dossena doubling up on the youngster.

Napoli craft the best chance of the game but Cavani snatches at his shot and Reina gets down early to save. Good chance.

But Reina clears for Liverpool who, despite looking disjointed tonight, have been fairly solid.

Dossena gets to the left-hand byline and wins a corner for Napoli.

Scrappy start to the second half, it's fair to say. The most intriguing action so far has been Ngog's need to change his shirt.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Kyrgiakos on, Carragher off (Liverpool)

<b>The second half is underway in Italy.</b>

<b>I'm off for a half time cup of tea, so join us again in 10 minutes or so for the second half. For all you Tweeters, you can get all the latest football news at twitter.com/espnsoccernet and you can follow me, Michael Da Silva, at twitter.com/mjdasilva.</b>

<b>And that's the last action of the half.</b>

Liverpool let off the hook there.

Hamsik sees a shot cleared off the line by Konchesky. That was very close but it hadn't crossed the line.

Konchesky tries his luck from all of 40 yards after Shelvey rolled a free-kick across to him. It failed to get past the first man. Not really sure what the point of that was.

A comedy moment from Shelvey, who swings his leg at fresh air in a failed attempt to find Ngog.

Liverpool are rising to the occasion, and are looking stronger as they go on.

The Napoli fans are getting frustrated with their players, who are conceding possession frequently at the moment.

Jovanovic lofts a delicate high cross for Ngog and De Sanctis comes out and, curiously, gets nowhere near it.

Hamsik and Lavezzi are continuing to link up well for Napoli. Those two are emerging as the likeliest to inject some class into the attacking play in this game.

Babel chips in a cross from the right for Ngog, but he can't get his head on the end of it.

Shelvey sees a decent left footed shot from 20 yards saved by De Sanctis. Was never going to worry the keeper but Liverpool are not lying down, at least.

Lavezzi whips in the free kick, but it comes to nothing. Roy Hodgson is still biting his nails.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Lavezzi is fouled by <b>Skrtel </b>in a dangerous position on the right and the Slovakian picks up a yellow card for that.

Talk of the devil. Cavani has just tried an ambitious shot from just inside Liverpool's half, with Reina slightly off his line.

The Italians need to get Cavani into the game, who is being marshalled well by Carragher.

Napoli are certainly constructing the more sophisticated moves, and are beginning to pen Liverpool back into their own half.

Lavezzi has 'made a meal' of a hand on the shoulder by Carragher, to put it diplomatically. That really was outrageous simulation by the Argentine.

Liverpool counter attack with Jovanovic and telegraphs his pass to Shelvey, and Napoli get it away. Jovanic should have made more of that opportunity.

Free kick is floated in well by Shelvey with Skrtel getting a head on the ball but the flag is up.

Lavezzi mugs Jovanovic of possession far too easily, steps inside, and smashes an effort over the bar - but not by too much. Napoli enjoying the best of the chances so far.

Liverpool clear eventually but Cavani and Lavezzi both had chances to test Reina in a penalty box scrap.

Dossena whips in a teasing deep cross and Konchesky mops it up at the far post. Napoli corner.

Hamsik is caught very late by Poulsen as Napoli were in a good position to launch an attack with a number of red shirts committed. Poulsen lucky not to see yellow there.

Napoli growing in confidence as Liverpool has receded from their sprightly start. Pretty even start overall as neither side are taking control. Cagey, you could say.

A big night for Babel to impress. He may not get many more chances in a Liverpool shirt.

Babel is unable to control a strong through ball and a chance goes begging. A better first touch and Babel was in there.

Napoli are happy to let Liverpool knock the ball around in the early stages but they are attacking with pace when they get the ball. Lavezzi is quelled on this occasion.

Dossena, the former Liverpool man, almost gets behind Jamie Carragher but Dossena runs out of space.

Liverpool are looking for Ngog as soon as they get the ball in what looks like very direct tactics.

Having said that, they've only played 5 home games in that period.

Liverpool enjoying the better of the early possession at the Sao Paolo, a ground where Napoli haven't lost a European match since 1994.

<b>We're underway in Italy.</b>

Napoli, meanwhile, have been in encouraging form - they are currently fourth in Serie A - considerably better than Liverpool's, who have slipped to second-bottom of the Barclays Premier League.

The Reds are also without defenders Glen Johnson, who has a hamstring injury, and Daniel Agger, who is ill.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has left striker Fernando Torres and captain Steven Gerrard out of a game which is more of a distraction to Liverpool right now, given their Premier League plight.

Hello everyone, Michael Da Silva here. I'll be guiding you all through all the action of Liverpool's trip to Napoli in the Europa League.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/0825/fernandotorresandstevengerrard_275x155.jpg"> <br>Torres and Gerrard are both out.

Liverpool have rested Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard so it will be tough to get a result aginst Napoli, who are fourth in Serie A. Join us at 18:00 BST for live commentary.

Kelly crosses from the right for Ngog, who can only find De Sanctis with a tame header.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif">Liverpool sub: Aurelio on, Konchesky off

Napoli still the more likely to score but they are struggling to pick out the runs of Cavani with their final ball.

The news on Jamie Carragher is that he's not injured. Hodgson wants to rest him for the Premier League game against Blackburn on the weekend.

Lavezzi causing trouble again for Konchesky. Lavezzi is causing havoc down there.

Great header by Cavani which goes marginally wide with Reina beaten. A free header for the Uruguayan and he'll be disappointed he didn't hit the target there. Napoli getting closer.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15">Napoli's <b>Pazienza</b> is booked for booting Spearing in the mouth. Not nice, but he's gingerly back on his feet.

Napoli seem to have identified Liverpool right-back Martin Kelly as the weak link, with Lavezzi and Dossena doubling up on the youngster.

Napoli craft the best chance of the game but Cavani snatches at his shot and Reina gets down early to save. Good chance.

But Reina clears for Liverpool who, despite looking disjointed tonight, have been fairly solid.

Dossena gets to the left-hand byline and wins a corner for Napoli.

Scrappy start to the second half, it's fair to say. The most intriguing action so far has been Ngog's need to change his shirt.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Kyrgiakos on, Carragher off (Liverpool)

<b>The second half is underway in Italy.</b>

<b>I'm off for a half time cup of tea, so join us again in 10 minutes or so for the second half. For all you Tweeters, you can get all the latest football news at twitter.com/espnsoccernet and you can follow me, Michael Da Silva, at twitter.com/mjdasilva.</b>

<b>And that's the last action of the half.</b>

Liverpool let off the hook there.

Hamsik sees a shot cleared off the line by Konchesky. That was very close but it hadn't crossed the line.

Konchesky tries his luck from all of 40 yards after Shelvey rolled a free-kick across to him. It failed to get past the first man. Not really sure what the point of that was.

A comedy moment from Shelvey, who swings his leg at fresh air in a failed attempt to find Ngog.

Liverpool are rising to the occasion, and are looking stronger as they go on.

The Napoli fans are getting frustrated with their players, who are conceding possession frequently at the moment.

Jovanovic lofts a delicate high cross for Ngog and De Sanctis comes out and, curiously, gets nowhere near it.

Hamsik and Lavezzi are continuing to link up well for Napoli. Those two are emerging as the likeliest to inject some class into the attacking play in this game.

Babel chips in a cross from the right for Ngog, but he can't get his head on the end of it.

Shelvey sees a decent left footed shot from 20 yards saved by De Sanctis. Was never going to worry the keeper but Liverpool are not lying down, at least.

Lavezzi whips in the free kick, but it comes to nothing. Roy Hodgson is still biting his nails.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Lavezzi is fouled by <b>Skrtel </b>in a dangerous position on the right and the Slovakian picks up a yellow card for that.

Talk of the devil. Cavani has just tried an ambitious shot from just inside Liverpool's half, with Reina slightly off his line.

The Italians need to get Cavani into the game, who is being marshalled well by Carragher.

Napoli are certainly constructing the more sophisticated moves, and are beginning to pen Liverpool back into their own half.

Lavezzi has 'made a meal' of a hand on the shoulder by Carragher, to put it diplomatically. That really was outrageous simulation by the Argentine.

Liverpool counter attack with Jovanovic and telegraphs his pass to Shelvey, and Napoli get it away. Jovanic should have made more of that opportunity.

Free kick is floated in well by Shelvey with Skrtel getting a head on the ball but the flag is up.

Lavezzi mugs Jovanovic of possession far too easily, steps inside, and smashes an effort over the bar - but not by too much. Napoli enjoying the best of the chances so far.

Liverpool clear eventually but Cavani and Lavezzi both had chances to test Reina in a penalty box scrap.

Dossena whips in a teasing deep cross and Konchesky mops it up at the far post. Napoli corner.

Hamsik is caught very late by Poulsen as Napoli were in a good position to launch an attack with a number of red shirts committed. Poulsen lucky not to see yellow there.

Napoli growing in confidence as Liverpool has receded from their sprightly start. Pretty even start overall as neither side are taking control. Cagey, you could say.

A big night for Babel to impress. He may not get many more chances in a Liverpool shirt.

Babel is unable to control a strong through ball and a chance goes begging. A better first touch and Babel was in there.

Napoli are happy to let Liverpool knock the ball around in the early stages but they are attacking with pace when they get the ball. Lavezzi is quelled on this occasion.

Dossena, the former Liverpool man, almost gets behind Jamie Carragher but Dossena runs out of space.

Liverpool are looking for Ngog as soon as they get the ball in what looks like very direct tactics.

Having said that, they've only played 5 home games in that period.

Liverpool enjoying the better of the early possession at the Sao Paolo, a ground where Napoli haven't lost a European match since 1994.

<b>We're underway in Italy.</b>

Napoli, meanwhile, have been in encouraging form - they are currently fourth in Serie A - considerably better than Liverpool's, who have slipped to second-bottom of the Barclays Premier League.

The Reds are also without defenders Glen Johnson, who has a hamstring injury, and Daniel Agger, who is ill.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has left striker Fernando Torres and captain Steven Gerrard out of a game which is more of a distraction to Liverpool right now, given their Premier League plight.

Hello everyone, Michael Da Silva here. I'll be guiding you all through all the action of Liverpool's trip to Napoli in the Europa League.

<img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2010/0825/fernandotorresandstevengerrard_275x155.jpg"> <br>Torres and Gerrard are both out.

Liverpool have rested Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard so it will be tough to get a result aginst Napoli, who are fourth in Serie A. Join us at 18:00 BST for live commentary.