Reds caught napping in title defence
Dries Mertens' late penalty and an injury time strike from Fernando Llorente saw Liverpool's Champions League title defence get off to the worst possible start as they lost 2-0 to Italian side Napoli.
Belgian striker Mertens converted from the spot after Andy Robertson brought down Jose Callejon in the box, with Llorente pouncing on a rare defensive mistake from Virgil van Dijk to consign Jurgen Klopp's Reds to the same fate they suffered when the sides met in last year's group stages.
Meanwhile, Chelsea and boss Frank Lampard also got their campaign off to a dreadful start as Ross Barkley missed a late penalty as they were beaten 1-0 by managerless Valencia at Stamford Bridge.
Former Bolton man Rodrigo got the only goal of the game midway through the second-half, with Barkley sending his spot kick over the crossbar with just five minutes to go, ensuring Lampard's first Champions League game in charge of the Blues ended in an embarrassing defeat.
Belfast Telegraph
