Hodgson's 'sacrifice' proves painless

Napoli  0 Liverpool 0:PANDEMONIUM REIGNED outside Stadio San Paolo last night as Ultras fought Carabinieri and attacked Liverpool supporters. Inside, and unusually for Roy Hodgson's brief tenure as Liverpool manager, there was order and calm. The great "sacrifice" Hodgson took with his team did not extend to his job prospects after all.

Liverpool remain top of Group K after a scrappy draw with Napoli but, more importantly, a determined display by the fringe players Hodgson gambled upon at a delicate moment in his reign. Victory over Blackburn on Sunday would complete the vindication for the 63-year-old. He must be tempted to resist wholesale changes against Rovers after a night when the only reputation stained in Naples was that of Italian football.

On the eve of the game the newspaper Napoli carried an unsubstantiated article warning of “one thousand hooligans” heading over from England. As in many parts of Italy, of course, the problem is much closer to home. Five English people and one Italian, the owner of the pizzeria where supporters had come under attack, were hospitalised on Wednesday night and trouble continued throughout yesterday. Gangs of Ultras “went out seeking English fans”, according to local police, and fought with officers outside the stadium before kick-off. There were unconfirmed reports of at least 10 Liverpool supporters being injured on the approach to the ground.

To endure all this at great expense is an extreme test of loyalty. To endure all this to watch a makeshift team bordered on insult but that at least was removed by the reaction of their team. Most managers in Hodgson’s predicament would do the same but, aware of the potential repercussions among a disenchanted fan-base and squad alike, would not say so ahead of the game. The argument for keeping Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Raul Meireles and Lucas fresh for Blackburn Rovers on Sunday is not watertight anyhow, given the Liverpool manager rested his captain in Utrecht with Blackpool in mind and lost that game 2-1.

Individual errors and a reluctance to commit to attack, both features of Hodgson’s team recently, were shown by Napoli before they eventually discovered the form that has taken Walter Mazzarri’s side to fourth in Serie A.

Hodgson gave Jonjo Shelvey a first start for Liverpool since his €1.9 million arrival from Charlton Athletic and was repaid with a debut of rich promise from the midfielder. The occasional loose touch did not detract from Shelvey’s willingness to support the lone striker David Ngog while his strength on the ball and influence on the Liverpool performance belied his age.

Jay Spearing, Martin Kelly, Milan Jovanovic and Ryan Babel were also brought out of hibernation and, with the exception of the Holland international, all contributed to a composed performance. Babel’s display was encapsulated in two first-half moments. Released into space on the left of the Napoli area by diagonal pass from Jovanovic, the €13 million forward turned away from goal and eventually ran the ball out of play. He was then dispossessed by Ezequiel Lavezzi deep in the Napoli half and gave up the chase to retrieve possession before Martin Skrtel intervened at the expense of a booking.

With 20 minutes remaining the 23-year-old was presented with a glorious chance to make amends. Jovanovic sliced across the Italian defence and picked out Babel’s unmarked run into the Napoli area on the left. Babel fired low, but goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis stuck out his left leg and deprived the Dutchman, Hodgson and Liverpool of a much-needed release.

Ngog was also thwarted with a shot on the turn, although chances for Liverpool were scarce. Napoli carried the greater threat but were unable to apply a finish. The striker Edinson Cavani failed to convert two inviting deliveries from Lavezzi and, when Cavani returned Hugo Campagnaro’s corner across the face of Jose Reina’s goal, Marek Hamsik scuffed a close-range effort past the Liverpool goalkeeper but not beyond Paul Konchesky on the line.

NAPOLI: De Sanctis, Campagnaro, Cannavaro, Aronica, Maggio (Zuniga 75), Pazienza, Gargano (Yebda 83), Dossena, Hamsik (Sosa 85), Lavezzi, Cavani. Subs not used: Iezzo, Grava, Dumitru, Cribari. Booked: Pazienza.

LIVERPOOL: Reina, Kelly, Carragher (Kyrgiakos 46), Skrtel, Konchesky (Aurelio 65), Jovanovic, Poulsen, Spearing, Babel (Cole 77), Shelvey, Ngog. Subs not used: Jones, Maxi, Wilson, Eccleston. Booked: Skrtel.

Referee: Thorsten Kinhofer (Germany).