Ancelotti reportedly chooses Napoli's starting XI for Liverpool clash

Carlo Ancelotti has reportedly already chosen his Napoli starting XI for the Champions League decider in Liverpool.

Going into the final group game, it’s still wide open with Napoli, Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool battling to see which two will continue in the tournament.

The Partenopei will go through with a point, but could even lose at Anfield if Paris Saint-Germain fall in their visit to Red Star Belgrade.

There is also the possibility of all three teams ending on nine points, at which stage Liverpool would be top on the three-way head-to-head, with second place depending on the goal difference.

According to multiple sources, Ancelotti has decided to bring back Nikola Maksimovic for the ‘three-and-a-half-man defence’ – the Serbian acts as a centre-back when in possession, then reverts to right-back when under attack.

Raul Albiol was injured for Saturday’s 4-0 victory over Frosinone, but he is fit to start with Jose Callejon and Fabian Ruiz on the midfield wings.

Dries Mertens was rested yesterday, as he will partner Lorenzo Insigne, sending Arkadiusz Milik to the bench.

Faouzi Ghoulam was very impressive on his comeback against Frosinone, his first match since rupturing knee ligaments in November 2017.

Although he provided two assists for Milik goals in that game, the Algeria international won’t be risked from the start, although he could come off the bench.

The same goes for Adam Ounas, who scored a spectacular long-range strike yesterday and was Man of the Match.

Napoli (probable): Ospina; Maksimovic, Albiol, Koulibaly, Mario Rui; Callejon, Allan, Hamsik, Fabian; Mertens, Insigne