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Jurgen Klopp (Getty Images)
Jurgen Klopp greeting Liverpool’s fighting spirit, as the Reds showed that they can cope without Virgil van Dijk winning 1-0 in Ajax in the opening game of their Champions League campaign on Wednesday.
Klopp’s team is likely to be without Van Dijk for the remainder of the season after the influential Dutch center-back suffered an ACL injury against Everton last weekend.
Critics have claimed Liverpool will have problems without Van Dijk, but Brazilian midfielder Fabinho impressively ranked alongside Joe Gomez at the heart of the defense.
While Liverpool weren’t at their best and were lucky at times, never again than when Nicolas Tagliafico diverted Sadio Mane’s effort into his own net in the first half was it an encouraging start from Group D for Klopp.
There was enough spirit in the 2019 Champions League winners to suggest that they will use the Van Dijk punch to fuel their defense of the Premier League title and the European challenge.
“It wasn’t perfect, but they fought brilliantly,” Klopp said. “We didn’t take our chances, which was a shame, and Ajax had a great opportunity that crashed into the post.
“When you’re up 1-0, these things can happen. But overall I’m happy with the game.
“It wasn’t sun football but we wanted three points and we got it.”
Van Dijk will need knee surgery after Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford cut him off with a stick and his injury came at a time when Liverpool looked vulnerable after losing 7-2 to Aston Villa earlier of the international break.
In that context, keeping a clean sheet for the third time this season was a huge boost for Liverpool, who won for the first time in three games despite missing defender Joel Matip and midfielder Thiago Alcantara after the brutal derby of Merseyside.
“I think both teams could play better football. At times it was wild. The field was deep and muddy,” Klopp said.
“Xherdan Shaqiri was upbeat and Takumi Minamino was amazing. He’s like a machine. It helps when you can make five substitutions.”
Praising Fabinho for an acrobatic goalline punt, Klopp added: “I didn’t know how it happened in the beginning. That’s a good example of how the guys did it today.”
Backs to the wall
Liverpool’s makeshift defense was easily opened up early as Quincy Promes moved down the left and encountered Dusan Tadic, who set Ryan Gravenberch up for a fierce blow that swerved.
There was another big scare when David Neres’ pass found Promes unmarked twenty feet from goal, but he fired straight at Adrian to free Liverpool.
Making the most of that breakout, Liverpool strangely took the lead in the 35th minute.
Mane eluded Perr Schuurs when he stormed into the Ajax area, but when the Senegal forward went to shoot, he kicked into the grass, sending a failed effort towards Tagliafico, who lost his balance and pushed the ball into his own net. no pressure .
Klopp has been fostering a siege mentality among his players since the Everton game and his back-to-wall spirit was on full display as Fabinho ran back to clear Tadic’s ball off the line with an excellent kick from above.
Van Dijk couldn’t have done better himself, but while Fabinho impressed, Ajax was still a threat.
Aiming from the edge of the box, Davy Klaassen slammed a strong shot from the far post in the first minute of the second half.
Ajax came close again when Noussair Mazraoui took a cut from Neres and forced Adrian to make a good save.
Klopp took out Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Mane, with the latter needing ice on his right leg while sitting on the bench.
Jurgen Ekkelenkamp nearly pulled off a late draw after a mistake by Adrian, but Liverpool stood firm to provide a morale-boosting start to life without Van Dijk.
