Former Premier League duo Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku fire Napoli to the top of Serie A with win at Fiorentina - with pair scoring past ex-Man United team-mate David de Gea!

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Former Premier League outcasts Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku have propelled Napoli to the top of Serie A, proving their worth after turbulent spells in England. 

Under Antonio Conte’s guidance, the duo delivered decisive performances in Napoli’s commanding 3-0 victory over Fiorentina on Saturday, marking the club's fourth consecutive league win. 

McTominay, who joined Napoli from Manchester United in the summer, capped off a dominant display with his fourth league goal of the season - finding the back of the net in the 68th minute of the game.

Meanwhile, Lukaku - after a disappointing return to Chelsea in 2021 - converted a penalty to double Napoli’s lead, underlining his resurgence in Italy after linking up with Conte once again. 

Their performances have not only endeared them to the Napoli faithful but have also been pivotal in the team's ascent to the top of the league standings - sitting on 44 points, three ahead of Atalanta who have a game in hand.

For McTominay and Lukaku, however, the victory will carry an extra layer of satisfaction, with United continuing to struggle under Ruben Amorim and Chelsea dropping points in a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday. 

Former Premier League outcasts Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku  propelled Napoli to the top of Serie A 

McTominay capped off a dominant display with his fourth league goal of the season 

It was a less enjoyable evening for McTominay's former Manchester United team-mate David de Gea - who joined Fiorentina as a free agent in August, putting pen to paper on a one-year contract with an option to extend it for a further season. 

With Napoli's main Scudetto rivals not in league action this weekend - Atalanta and Inter Milan are both in Saudi Arabia for the Italian Super Cup - Conte's side took full advantage.

Napoli are on 44 points, three ahead of Atalanta who have a game in hand, and Inter are a further point back, but with two fewer matches played. Fiorentina dropped to sixth on 32 points.

Mathias Olivera had the ball in the net for Napoli early on but the goal was ruled out for offside, while Leonardo Spinazzola drew a save from Fiorentina keeper De Gea.

The visitors took the lead in the 29th minute when David Neres went on a mazy dribbling run into the area, going past three players before blasting a powerful shot into the roof of the net.

Fiorentina striker Moise Kean finally got his chance to shine, and found the net, but his goal was chalked off for a handball while controlling the ball and Napoli took their lead into the break.

Fiorentina manager Raffaele Palladino had given defender Matias Moreno his Serie A debut and the Argentine showed his inexperience when hauling down Andre Anguissa in the area.

Lukaku, who had a penalty saved in Napoli's last game, sent De Gea the wrong way with his low strike straight down the middle to give the visitors a two-goal cushion nine minutes after the interval.

Lukaku converted a penalty to double Napoli’s lead, underlining his resurgence in Italy 

Fiorentina had two chances in quick succession to pull back a goal, with Napoli keeper Alex Meret denying Rolando Mandragora and Amir Rrahmani blocking Lucas Beltran's goalbound shot from the rebound.

Another defensive error allowed Napoli in for a third goal, with Pietro Comuzzo's poor clearance of a cross from Anguissa falling to McTominay who calmly stroked home his fourth league goal of the season in the 68th minute.

Fiorentina could find no way past a Napoli side with the best defensive record in Serie A and, after a run of eight successive league wins, Palladino's side have now gone four games without a win.

Napoli's title charge will continue next time out against Hellas Verona on Sunday, January 12.