Steven Gerrard To the Rescue As Liverpool Leave It Late To Overcome Napoli

Over the years, the occasions when Liverpool have been dragged kicking and screaming from the jaws of defeat to win the game, solely by the pure force of captain Steven Gerrard, have become memorable moments of Anfield folklore.

Last night, Liverpool's number 8 added a new chapter to that already-bulging book by netting a hattrick in fifteen minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute to hand his team three points and take them to the brink of qualification from the Europa League group stage.

Reds' boss Roy Hodgson stated before the game that he would name a strong lineup, and it was, of sorts, with Carragher, Reina, Kyrgiakos, Meireles and Konchesky all taking their place on the pitch from the start. Returned from injury Glen Johnson also made his first start in a month, while there were recalls for out-of-favour midfielders Christian Poulsen and Milan Jovanovic. Youngsters David Ngog, Jay Spearing and Jonjo Shelvey also returned to action in a competition they had impressed in previously.

In the opening exchanges Liverpool passed the ball about well and the shape of the team looked good for the first five minutes. However chances looked difficult to come by as a familiar problem surfaced of not getting enough Red shirts forward when the home side attacked.

Watched by new owner John Henry and his wife, who had spent the week asking Liverpool fans on Twitter what songs she should learn ahead of her first Anfield experience, Liverpool soon found themselves penned back in their own half of the field by the impressive Italian outfit Napoli.

The impressive Ezequiel Lavezzi was at the heart of most of the away side's attacking moves, setting up Edinson Cavani to blaze over the bar before firing a curling effort wide himself.

Liverpool's midfield play began to be a bit ragged as they failed to alleviate the pressure on themselves for any period of time, and mid-way through the first half they paid for their lack of dominance.

Christian Poulsen, poor throughout the game yet again, entirely misjudged a header which went back towards his own goal into the path of Cavani. The Uruguayan forward instantly headed onto Lavezzi who streaked away from the Reds' defence, composed himself, and finished smartly beneath Reina.

Liverpool in all honesty offered little in the way of reply for the remainder of the first half, David Ngog having the best chance to equalise after Poulsen sent him through, only for ex-Red Andrea Dossena to do enough to put Ngog off, steering his effort wide of De Sanctis' goal. Jovanovic had a chance to cross for Ngog soon after but delayed, and the chance was lost.

At half time, searching for a way back into the game, Roy Hodgson made the decision to bring on skipper Steven Gerrard for left winger Jovanovic. Meireles was moved over to the flank to allow Gerrard to play more centrally as Liverpool hoped to manufacture a way back into the game.

Within seconds, Gerrard's determination to the cause was on display, crunching into challenges and spraying passes the width of the pitch after the restart.

Liverpool sensed opportunity and the fans reacted similarly, baying for their team to attack the Italians' goal.

The vast majority of the second half was played in Napoli's half of the pitch, with Reina only on a couple of occasions being called into action to sweep up through balls or claim crosses. Jay Spearing, inspired by his captain's appearance, crashed through challenge after challenge as Napoli attempted to counter, while fellow youngster Shelvey tried his best to be a threat.

After Academy graduate Nathan Eccleston was brought on to end another miserable evening for Danish midfielder Poulsen, Liverpool upped their game again. Meireles, who had a game to forget for the most part, missed a golden opportunity before Ngog saw a shot saved. From the rebound, Gerrard skied when he should have done better.

With fifteen minutes remaining, Jonjo Shelvey embarked on a run past three Napoli defenders before being crowded out. But what should have been a routine clearance ended up as the catalyst for Liverpool's comeback.

Wing back Dossena, so often maligned during his time at Anfield, showed exactly why he wasn't a success with a slightly under-hit backpass to his goalkeeper.

Gerrard pounced immediately, sliding into a challenge with De Sanctis which only one player looked like he wanted to win. De Sanctis cried foul but his claims fell on deaf ears, and rightly so. The Italian 'keeper bottled it and the ball rebounded off the much stronger challenge from Gerrard and bounced into the net to level matters for Liverpool.

With the threat of defeat lifted, Liverpool didn't look back. Ngog was lucky to escape injury after a terrible challenge from Aronica, who should have been red-carded. The Reds continued to press and the introduction of Lucas for Ngog, suffering with cramp, allowed Gerrard to move closer to goal again. A surging run from Johnson from the right saw him felled in the box by villain of the piece Aronica, and Gerrard smashed home the penalty brilliantly just two minutes from time to put Liverpool ahead.

As the game ticked towards its conclusion, first Spearing and then Lucas won the ball in midfield, releasing Gerrard to bear down on De Sanctis, before sublimely lifting the ball over the prone keeper into the net for his hattrick and to seal the victory for Liverpool.

A hard-fought win for the home side, but a deserved one for their second-half endeavours.

The same and more will be needed on Sunday against Chelsea in the Premier League, but with Steven Gerrard in this kind of irrepressible form, anything is possible.

Full time at Anfield, Liverpool 3 Napoli 1.

Man of the Match: Spearing was the best of the starters, but 45 minutes from Gerrard is worth weeks of game time from anyone else. Captain Fantastic.