---
title: "Liverpool: Jamie Carragher praises three players following Napoli defeat"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/liverpool-jamie-carragher-praises-three-players-following-napoli-defeat/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Stephan Georgiou"
section: "Features"
published: "2019-09-18T19:20:47Z"
modified: "2019-09-18T19:20:47Z"
---

# Liverpool: Jamie Carragher praises three players following Napoli defeat

**Jamie Carragher was in a positive mood despite Liverpool’s Champions League defeat to Napoli on Tuesday night.**

[Liverpool](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49719155) suffered a 2-0 defeat thanks to two late goals from the home side as they started their Champions League campaign on the wrong foot.

A debatable penalty call led to [Dries Mertens’](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQWOl4_s_vQ) opener for Napoli, while a stoppage-time goal from Fernando Llorente sealed the points as Liverpool lost at the San Paolo Stadium for the second season running.

But Carragher was decidedly upbeat, judging by the ex-defender’s tweet following the game, where he singled out three players in particular for praise.

He [tweeted](https://twitter.com/Carra23/status/1174072827831627776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1174072827831627776%7Ctwgr%5E363937393b70726f64756374696f6e&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftbrfootball.com%2Fjamie-carragher-upbeat-despite-liverpool-loss-to-napoli-on-tuesday-night%2F): “Nothing between both teams before the penalty, it was harsh but one you’d be wanting at the other end. Fabinho & Henderson excellent & the Adrian save unbelievable! Toughest game out the way & LFC didn’t do \[too\] bad after losing here last season.”

It seems as though Carragher has a good eye for this sort of thing, with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson the only Liverpool players, apart from Sadio Mane, to record a match rating from [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1426944/LiveStatistics/Europe-UEFA-Champions-League-2019-2020-Napoli-Liverpool) of over 7.0.

[Henderson](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1426944/LiveStatistics/Europe-UEFA-Champions-League-2019-2020-Napoli-Liverpool) recorded a total of three key passes – only Roberto Firmino (4) had more – while Fabinho’s pass accuracy rate of 95.4% was only bettered by teammate Andrew Robertson (98.2%) from those in Liverpool’s starting XI.

Meanwhile, [Adrian’s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQWOl4_s_vQ) wonder-save from Mertens was arguably one of the highlights from a Liverpool perspective.

As Carragher recognised himself, Liverpool lost in Naples [last year](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45726850) – which may provide the Reds with a positive omen ahead of their remaining group fixtures.

However, the stark reality is that the performances of the trio may not count for too much – and the onus will now be on the Reds to deliver in the upcoming group games – as well as in the Premier League to get back to winning ways.

Though with Carragher feeling Liverpool’s toughest test is now behind them, the former centre-back may well be confident that the Reds will have no problems bouncing back.

***Liverpool fans – how are you feeling after the Napoli result? As good as Carragher, or perhaps not as confident? Let us know by entering the discussion below!***