Napoli striker Arkadiusz Milik has had it tough since joining the club in summer 2016. Two consecutive ACL tears in two seasons under Maurizio Sarri saw the striker play nothing more than a bit-part role, and the Poland international could have been forgiven for losing heart during those arduous consecutive rehabilitation periods.
Yet he battled back, and now under new boss Carlo Ancelotti, Milik is firing on all cylinders, looking much more like the hot prospect that was brought in from Ajax over two years ago. Already with seven league goals in just eight starting appearances for the Partenopei, the 24-year-old is certainly one that Liverpool must watch out for on Tuesday evening, his 6’2” frame providing a different prospect for defences to deal with than the much smaller Dries Mertens.
All of the Napoli squad have had to come to terms with a different approach this season too. While Sarri kept to a regular starting XI whenever possible, the current boss firmly favours rotation, and Milik has taken full advantage of the change in philosophy in recent times. When the side were locked in at 1-1 away to Atalanta at the beginning of the month, it was the Polish striker that Ancelotti turned to, introducing him as a substitute with just eight minutes remaining.
Milik only needed three to find the back of the net, his goal securing the victory versus a side that had twice beaten Napoli during Sarri’s reign. “The goal gave me a lot of confidence, we won a very difficult match,” the striker told Sky Italia after the match. “But I don’t see this as a new beginning, rather a big opportunity to put in a strong performance. We know Frosinone are going to make life difficult for us, but we are ready. We want to win, play our football and above all take home the points.”
His words turned out to be prophetic as Milik was handed a start versus Frosinone last weekend, a match in which he would bag a brace as Napoli romped to a 4-0 win. The Coach is expected to rotate his lineup once again versus Liverpool, with Mertens slotting back into the attack alongside Lorenzo Insigne, the man who scored the decider in the reverse fixture back in Naples.
However, the Reds must be on alert for the introduction of Milik, a man who could truly change the game with his aerial prowess and his ability to finish off chances. It’s a match in a group with everything still at stake, the so-called group of death that could still see any one of the Napoli, Liverpool or PSG advance through to the knockout stages.
“We’ve made the cake, it’s now time to put the cherry on top,” Ancelotti quipped to reporters earlier this week.
Perhaps Milik will be that man to place the “cherry” on the cake on Tuesday evening, in what is set to be a truly exciting and closely-fought Champions League encounter at Anfield.
Arek Milik emerged from the bench to score the winner for Napoli this evening.
Could be a HUGE three points away from home in #SerieA! 📈
Atalanta 1-2 Napoli
