Reds hold firm to stay top

Liverpool held Napoli to a goalless stalemate in Italy to stay top of Europa League Group K.

Chances were few and far between in the first period, although Paul Konchesky had to clear a deflected Marek Hamsik effort off the line on the stroke of half-time.

The game became more open after the break and Edinson Cavani forced Pepe Reina into a save, while Ryan Babel's effort was saved by Morgan De Sanctis and David Ngog's shot was blocked by Salvatore Aronica at the other end.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson's gamble in leaving at home a handful of his senior players - including Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard - paid off at the Stadio San Paolo.

Many tipped the hopelessly out-of-form Reds for defeat after bringing a weakened side to Naples, but they withstood long spells of pressure to leave with a point.

Hodgson had admitted in his pre-match press conference that the Premier League had to take priority because of their woeful start to the season, with just one win in eight games leaving them 19th in the table, and that was why he had rested Torres, Gerrard, Raul Meireles and Lucas Leiva.

He said if they lost in Naples he would expect to receive criticism. He avoided the former but it is unlikely the latter will dissipate any time soon as even a win over Blackburn on Sunday will probably not end the growing murmurings of discontent among fans.