Liverpool continued their preparations for the 2019-20 campaign with a 3-0 loss to Italian giants Napoli at the Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.
Lorenzo Insigne and Arkadiusz Milik were on the scoresheet in the first period before Amin Younes struck in the second as the Serie A outfit ran out convincing winners.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live updates of the action below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the pre-season friendly between Liverpool and Napoli from Edinburgh. The Reds have lost two of their last three friendlies and will therefore be keen to return to winning ways ahead of their final pre-season clash against Lyon on Wednesday night. It should be a cracker between these two teams - stay tuned for the action!
TEAMS!
LIVERPOOL: Mignolet; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Henderson, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Origi
NAPOLI: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Maksimovic, Manolas, Mario Rui; Callejon, Zielinski, Verdi, Mertens; Insigne, Milik
Divock Origi will once again lead the line for Liverpool this afternoon, with a five-man midfield lining up behind. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain starts despite concerns over a slight calf issue, while it is once again Liverpool's first-choice back four with Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold in the wide positions. Adam Lallana is among those on the bench.
As for Napoli, the Serie A outfit have sent a very strong XI onto the field. Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon all start for the Italian side, while Arkadiusz Milik will lead the line. There is also a spot in the starting side for Simone Verdi, who should line up alongside Piotr Zielinski in midfield.
Kickoff has actually been delayed a touch as there was quite a smart pre-match show. Both sets of teams have just started to make their way onto the field now!
The pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. We are just about ready to get this brilliant pre-season encounter underway in Edinburgh.
KICKOFF: Liverpool kick things off in this match...
... strong start from Liverpool with the Premier League side already enjoying good possession inside Napoli's half of the field. Liverpool are in their black kit for this game while Napoli are all in light blue. There is a brilliant atmosphere inside the stadium here.
CHANCE! Huge chance for Liverpool to take the lead as Robertson picks out Origi with an excellent cross, but the Belgium international clips the ball just wide of the post!
Not an awful lot from Napoli going forward in the first six minutes, with Liverpool in charge of the tempo through their packed midfield. Milner seems to be breaking forward to press the Napoli defence when the likes of Maksimovic have possession here.
Better from Napoli in the last couple of minutes with Mertens and Callejon finding space in the wide areas. That said, Mignolet has not had a save to make thus far here.
This will be a good test for Liverpool because Napoli will use the ball well and will expect to have positive moments on the counter-attack. More of an even game at the moment.
SAVE! Mignolet is on hand to keep out a curling effort from Verdi.
SAVE! Decent save from Mignolet to keep out a free kick from Mertens.
Liverpool started the better here, but Napoli have been on the front foot for the last few minutes and have indeed had the better moments in the final third of the field.
Better from Liverpool in the last couple of minutes as they start to use the ball once again, but the Reds have not really threatened since Origi had that early chance here.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 0-1 NAPOLI (INSIGNE)
GOAL! Brilliant from Insigne as the attacker drives at the Liverpool defence before picking out the bottom corner with a wonderful finish. Alexander-Arnold could not deal with the number 24 and it was a brilliant finish past Mignolet - Napoli make the breakthrough.
Van Dijk does well to slide and win the ball ahead of Milik as Napoli again threaten on the counter-attack - there seems to be a lot of space for the Italian side to counter here.
Next up for Liverpool is a clash against Lyon on Wednesday night ahead of the Community Shield next weekend. Napoli, meanwhile, will continue their preparations for the new season against Marseille on August 4. Napoli look the more prepared at the moment.
Quite a scrappy game in the last couple of minutes with the referee forced to intervene following a couple of late challenges. Not too much happening for Liverpool here.
Insigne again finds space on the counter, but Robertson manages to come across and make a good challenge. The Italians are really stretching the pitch in Edinburgh.
Not an awful lot happening for Liverpool in terms of attacking pressure at the moment, with Napoli looking the likelier of the two teams to add to the scoring in this game.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 0-2 NAPOLI (MILIK)
GOAL! Napoli have their second of the match as Insigne breaks down the left before delivering a brilliant low cross into Milik, who slides and finishes into the back of the net!
Little under 15 minutes of the first period remaining and Liverpool are really struggling to get going here. Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wijnaldum have been quiet in support of Origi, who has also not really featured since missing that chance in the early stages here.
Napoli continue to pick up little fouls from Liverpool as frustration sets in for the Champions League holders. Little over 10 minutes of the first half remaining here.
Liverpool do not have an awful lot on their bench when it comes to experience options, but Lallana is available and certainly has the quality to make a difference. The Reds are just not really keeping the ball for any sustained period in the final third of the field.
Insigne has been the pick of the players in the first half and the Italian has another dangerous cross cleared behind as Napoli look for a third before the interval here.
The crowd are a little bit subdued inside the stadium, with Napoli certainly quietening those who follow Liverpool. Little over five minutes of the first period remaining here.
Napoli just have a concern over Manolas here, with the centre-back going down and staying there. The Italian side might have to make a change here...
... Manolas races back onto the field after limping off, which seems a surprise. He limps off and then sprints back on at full speed, which is a little bizarre. Still 2-0 Napoli here.
Bit of possession for Liverpool as we approach the latter stages of the first half. It will be interesting to see whether both managers make wholesale changes at the break here.
Napoli again break into a dangerous position through Insigne, but the attacker just slows it down and that allows Liverpool to get players back and the move breaks down.
DISALLOWED GOAL! Wijnaldum finds the back of the net with a brilliant finish, but the offside flag is raised and it will not count. It was a wonderful finish from the Netherlands international.
We are into the second of two additional minutes at the end of the first period.
CLOSE! Matip heads wide of the Napoli post in perhaps the final action of the half here.
HALF TIME: LIVERPOOL 0-2 NAPOLI
So there we have it - the referee brings the first period to a close with Napoli leading Liverpool 2-0 courtesy of goals from Insigne and Milik during a strong first-half display.
Insigne made the breakthrough in the 17th minute with an excellent finish into the bottom corner, before the Italian provided the cross for Milik to register in the 29th minute.
STATISTICS! Liverpool shaded the first-half possession with 52%, but they only managed two attempts and both were off target. Napoli, meanwhile, hit the target with all four of their attempts in the opening 45 minutes. No yellow cards to report here.
BENCH WATCH! Liverpool's bench is not exactly full of experienced options, but Brewster has been in fine form during pre-season and the youngster could play in the second period. Meanwhile, new signing Harvey Elliott has also been included alongside the likes of Joe Gomez, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Harry Wilson.
As for Napoli, Manolas could be replaced at the break after picking up an injury late in the first period, with Chiriches the obvious option. Ancelotti also has options in the shape of Hysaj and Tutino, though, while Ghoulam is also available for the Italians here.
Napoli were very impressive in the first half with their pace and movement in the final third of the field. Will the Italians continue to cause problems in the second period here?
KICKOFF: Napoli resume the action in Edinburgh...
... Napoli have made some changes for the second period, which I will confirm as soon as possible. It looks to be the same XI for Liverpool, though, which is a relief!
NAPOLI SUBS! Ghoulam, Younes and Chiriches have replaced Manolas, Rui and Mertens.
It has been a decent start to the second period from Liverpool, who have already been able to release Henderson into a shooting position. There is no question that Klopp will be looking for more from his team in the second 45 minutes of this contest.
SAVE! Comfortable save for Meret to keep out a long-range effort from Fabinho.
GOAL! LIVERPOOL 0-3 NAPOLI (YOUNES)
GOAL! Napoli have their third of the match in the 52nd minute as Younes, who was one of three changes at the break, converts from close range after Mignolet had palmed out an effort from Insigne. Not sure about the goalkeeping from the Belgium international!
This isn't great for Liverpool. It is pre-season and results are not too important, but Klopp cannot be pleased with what he is seeing out on the field at the moment.
Good block from Chiriches to prevent a strike from Henderson from troubling his goalkeeper. Napoli then manage to deal with the resulting corner by conceding another.
A number of Liverpool players are currently going through a warm-up, which suggests that Klopp will look to make wholesale changes in the near future here.
SAVE! Important save from Mignolet to keep out an effort from Milik following another excellent piece of work from Insigne. Liverpool could have conceded four or five here.
Napoli look to be preparing at least two more changes in Edinburgh.
NAPOLI SUBS! Hysaj and Gaetano replace Di Lorenzo and Verdi here.
LIVERPOOL SUBS! Lallana, Brewster, Lovren and Wilson replace Henderson, Origi, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Matip. Just those four changes for now!
NAPOLI SUB! Luperto replaces Maksimovic for Napoli here.
Not too much to report in terms of chances since both managers made a number of changes, but Brewster has shown some nice touches in the final third for Liverpool.
Just a reminder that Manchester City are waiting for Liverpool in the Community Shield next weekend. It will be fascinating to see what type of match occurs between those two, who went head-to-head in what was an incredible 2018-19 Premier League title race.
Not a great deal to report at the moment with both teams struggling to make things happen in the final third. The Liverpool fans would love a goal to cheer here.
Liverpool are preparing to make at least two more changes as we head for the final 15 minutes of this pre-season clash. Not too much happening for the Reds at the moment.
LIVERPOOL SUBS! Gomez and Hoever replace Robertson and Alexander-Arnold.
NAPOLI SUB! Milik is replaced by Tutino for the Italian side.
Liverpool have a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the Napoli box as Wilson is brought to the ground by Chiriches. Big chance to score here...
SHOT! ... Wilson's effort was always rising over the crossbar.
LIVERPOOL SUBS! Lewis, Van den Berg, Elliott and Duncan replace Milner, Fabinho Van Dijk and Wijnaldum. It is a debut for new signing Elliott.
SAVE! Really smart save from the Napoli goalkeeper to prevent Hysaj from turning a Brewster cross into the back of his own net. So close for Liverpool there!
Liverpool are the team on the front foot at the moment as we enter the final 10 minutes of action. Can the Reds give their fans something to cheer in the latter stages here?
Not too much of note happening at the moment aside from Liverpool keeping hold of the ball inside Napoli's half of the field. No sign of the Reds getting their name on the scoresheet.
The game is drifting, which is a shame because it has been so entertaining for long spells. At the moment, though, it is almost drifting towards the final whistle.
SHOT! Granted, Liverpool are without the likes of Salah, Mane and Firmino at the moment, but this has still been a poor performance when considering the players who are available. Elliott has just had a shot for the Reds, but his effort was always too high.
I should not imagine that there will be too much in the way of added time at the end of this match. It appears that the game will end without a single booking, meanwhile.
SAVE! Wonderful save from Meret to keep out a powerful strike from Wilson!
We are into the first of two additional minutes at the end of the match.
FULL TIME: LIVERPOOL 0-3 NAPOLI
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Napoli running out 3-0 winners over Champions League holders Napoli in this pre-season clash.
Lorenzo Insigne and Arkadiusz Milik were on the scoresheet in the first period before Amin Younes struck in the second as the Serie A outfit record a convincing victory.
That is just about it from me tonight, but I shall leave you with the match report from what was yet another entertaining pre-season fixture. See you again very soon!
