Genoa vs Napoli preview - Liverani wary of Napoli threat

Posted Friday, September 27, 2013 by PA

Genoa coach Fabio Liverani believes his team must turn in a flawless performance on Saturday if they are to surprise Napoli at the Luigi Ferraris stadium.

Napoli are unbeaten this season and sit third in the standings, two points behind league leaders Roma.

Genoa, in contrast, have mustered four points in five games and have yet to win at home this season.

"Unfortunately, this is the calendar and we have to face Napoli," Liverani said. "We will need to play with the same determination that saw us win the derby (at Sampdoria).

"We know what type of game to expect as Napoli are one of the favourites for the scudetto.

"We will have to play a perfect game if we are to upset them."

The Grifoni head into the encounter on the back of Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at Udinese.

The bad news for Genoa is that Raul Albiol, Miguel Britos, Valon Behrami, Jose Maria Callejon and Lorenzo Insigne will return to Napoli's starting line-up having been rested in Wednesday's 1-1 draw against promoted Sassuolo.

Colombian striker Duvan Zapata could make his Serie A debut with Napoli on Saturday.

However, Benitez could bench the team's top scorer Marek Hamsik and striker Gonzalo Higuain in view of next week's Champions League clash at Arsenal.

Despite their midweek setback which ended Napoli's four-match winning streak, Benitez was not too disappointed with his team's display.

"We played at the same level as our other games," Benitez said. "But if you play every three days and face a side that lost 7-0 (to Inter Milan), you risk underestimating the challenge.

"At the end of the day we cannot win every game and we took a point."

The hosts will be bolstered by the return of pivotal midfielder Juraj Kucka from injury.