Football news - Mohamed Salah strikes again as Reds survive scare to reach last 16

Mohamed Salah's 13th goal of the season proved enough to send Liverpool into the knockout stages of the Champions League and consign Napoli to the Europa League on another memorable night at Anfield.

Starting the game in third place in Group C, the Reds needed to win by a 1-0 goal margin or by two clear goals to progress, and their bright start was rewarded after 34 tense minutes when Salah broke the deadlock in style.

The Egyptian atoned for an earlier miss with brute strength to shrug off his marker, before selling Kalidou Koulibaly a dummy and sticking it between the legs of David Ospina.

Liverpool were excellent from this point on and would have had the game wrapped up much earlier with a more ruthless edge, with Sadio Mane spurning a hatful of glorious chances to set up a tense finale.

Napoli were poor and created little, but they nearly sneaked an unlikely equaliser right at the death only for Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker to make an unbelievable save to deny Arkadiusz Milik at point-blank range.

Jurgen Klopp's side held on for the three points which is enough to move them up to second place, above the Serie A club, with Paris Saint-Germain winning the group courtesy of a 4-1 victory against Red Star Belgrade.

Under the lights, on a European night, Liverpool rarely fail to produce. With their big-match player Salah on top of his game and with the formidable Alisson in nets, was their last-16 chances ever in any real doubt? You have to go back to 2014 for their last home defeat in Europe, when Real Madrid won 3-0 and the Reds were a much weaker side. Under Klopp, Liverpool are a more cohesive unit and they looked dead certs to win after the Egyptian's opener. Can they go one further than last season and win the entire competition? At least, now, they are in Monday's draw.

Much is made of Salah's pace and skill, but what people forget is that the Egyptian is as strong as an ox, too. And all of these qualities were on show as the 26-year-old opened the scoring. It was his goal that proved the difference on the night, but huge credit must also go to his goalkeeper Alisson for that terrific late save.

Liverpool: Alisson 8, Alexander-Arnold 7, Matip 6, Van Dijk 7, Robertson 7, Wijnaldum 6, Henderson 7, Milner 7, Mane 5, Salah 9, Fimino 6. Subs: Fabinho N/A, Lovren N/A, Keita 5.

Napoli: Ospina 6, Maksimovic 6, Albiol 7, Koulibaly 7, Rui 6, Callejon 6, Allan, 6 Hamsik 5, Fabian 5, Mertens 5, Insigne 5. Subs: Ghoulam 5, Zielinski 5, Milik 5.

34' - GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Napoli: Ohhhhh, Salah! Always the man for the big occasion. He accepts the pass from Milner, shrugs off Rui with brute strength, sells a shimmy to Koulibaly and slots the ball between the legs of Ospina. The goalkeeper must do better. Liverpool lead.

51' - SALAH DRAGS IT WIDE! Henderson pounces on a loose pass in midfield, gives it to Firmino. The Brazilian feeds Salah who bursts into the penalty area, aims for the near post with his shot but drags it wide. Great chance to make it two.

87' - MISS! Oh my, how on the earth has Mane not scored? Salah races down the left, cuts it back for Mane who has a gaping goal to aim for but somehow shoots it wide from point-blank range. If Napoli score now...

90'+1 - ALISSON TO THE RESCUE! Oh my, a huge moment! This is the moment for Napoli. Everyone misses a cross in the box, it falls to Milik who is through on goal, but the Liverpool goalkeeper makes a huge save to deny Napoli a place in the last 16.

90+4 - WHAT A MISS! How many chances does Mane need? He is through on goal but somehow sends his shot wide. Crazy.