How can Liverpool qualify from their Champions League group? Napoli fixture permutations explained

Liverpool‘s 2-1 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Parc de Princes has made their qualification ambitions from Group C of the Champions League a fair bit more difficult.

Neymar and Kylian Mbappé ran riot through the Reds’ defence, handing Jurgen Klopp’s men a third loss in the European campaign, at odds with their domestic form in which they are yet to taste defeat.

Read more: PSG’s cosmic trio prove their brilliance and leave Liverpool seeing stars

Liverpool now face an uphill battle to qualify from their Champions League group, needing a win of a certain quality at Anfield when group leaders Napoli come to visit in the final round of fixtures.

Jurgen Klopp’s men lost 1-0 in the tie in Naples in early October, their first loss of the season and a tawdry performance in which Naby Keita struggled before picking up an injury.

How things stand

Champions League Group C 2018/19 table

Permutations

If PSG win vs Red Star

PSG top the group on 11 points and Liverpool need to beat Napoli, taking both teams to 9 points. It then goes to goal difference and then away goals – and Liverpool need to register either a 1-0 win, or win by a two-goal cushion to avoid going home on away goals.

If Liverpool win 2-1 or 3-2, etc, Napoli will qualify on the away goals rule.

If PSG draw vs Red Star

PSG move to nine points. Liverpool need to win against Napoli and it’s a goal difference shootout for qualification places and then away goals. Again, Liverpool need to register either a 1-0 win, or win by a two goal cushion to gain superiority over Napoli, as PSG’s goal difference is far greater than both. There’s an outside chance of Liverpool topping the group if they register an unlikely five-goal win over Napoli.