Xherdan Shaqiri has warned his Liverpool team-mates they will be punished for any let up in intensity during their Champions League clash with Napoli.
Jurgen Klopp’s side will hope to build on their opening Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain in Naples on Wednesday evening.
Daniel Sturridge’s late goal against Chelsea at the weekend ensured Liverpool remain one of only three Premier League to boast an unbeaten record so far this season.
But Shaqiri, who spent a brief spell in Serie A with Inter Milan, has warned his team-mates against complacency ahead of the meeting with Napoli. He said, “We have to go there with confidence and it has to be our mentality to go there to win the game because if one player is not 100% sure, you cannot win there. We have to go there and be confident and try and play to dominate the game and then I’m sure we can win this game.”
The Swiss continued, “It’s always special to play in Naples. With Inter that time it was a big derby, they hate each other! ‘Before the game, on the bus, it was hard and they have crazy fans. They are a good team, they’ve played together many years.”
Liverpool thrashed Napoli 5-0 in a pre-season friendly in the summer but Shaqiri is expecting a bigger test this time around.
He added, “This game will be totally different to go there and take three points. They are used to playing together many years now, it’s similar to Tottenham. But also in the stadium they play at home and it’s always difficult to win a game away in Naples. It will be a hard game.”