[ad_1]
Curtis Jones scored his first goal in the Champions League after a terrible goalkeeper error as Liverpool beat Ajax to win Group D and secure a place in the round of 16.
Andre Onana misjudged the flight of a Neco Williams cross and 19-year-old midfielder Jones took the opportunity to score with the outside of his right foot.
Caoimhin Kelleher, substitute for starting goalkeeper Alisson, who was lost with a hamstring injury, also played his role in Liverpool’s victory, a tremendous save to deny substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar the choice of his saves.
Former Everton midfielder Davy Klaassen blew a great opportunity for the visitors and David Neres hit the wood.
Jones also shook a post before his goal ensured that Liverpool, with one game to play, would join Premier League rivals Manchester City and Chelsea in the knockout phase.
Kelleher impresses with Alisson’s absence
A surprise loss at home to Atalanta last week had threatened Liverpool’s dominance in Group D, with the Italians and Ajax closing in.
But Jurgen Klopp’s side overcame their latest worrying injury setback to progress after an open and entertaining game at Anfield.
It wasn’t easy at all for the Reds, Klaassen swerving to Ajax when he should have scored, while Neres was turned off by the wood after Kelleher had done well to turn down an attempt by young Brazilian forward Antony.
The 22-year-old’s save to deny Huntelaar, having made a one-handed save to knock out Noussair Mazraoui, was exceptional and at the final whistle, Klopp went straight to the Republic of Ireland team member to congratulate him on his performance.
With Atalanta held back in Denmark by Midtjylland, Liverpool are four points clear with one game to go and are unbeatable at the top.
Having already secured the group, Klopp will be able to rest the players when the Reds face Midtjylland in Denmark in the final round of games on December 9.
More injury pain for the Reds
On a night when captain Jordan Henderson made his first start at the club since November 8 following an injury, Liverpool revealed that their starting goalkeeper had become the latest player to join the casualty list.
His campaign has been plagued with injury setbacks and a hamstring problem for Alisson, which will likely rule him out of Sunday’s league game with the Wolves and next week’s European game, meaning the Reds now they don’t have nine veteran players with games that come thick and fast.
Midfielder Naby Keita (thigh) and right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold (calf) are close to returning.
But Virgil van Dijk (knee) is out for an extended period while there are no comeback dates for Joe Gomez (knee), Xherdan Shaqiri, James Milner (thigh), Thiago Alcantara (knee) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee).
Klopp’s decision to opt for Kelleher in Alisson’s absence raises questions about the future of Spanish goalkeeper Adrián, who he has often replaced when the Brazilian has been absent.
The veteran of more than 200 competitive appearances for Real Betis, West Ham and Liverpool watched from the bench as Kelleher provided a reassuring presence in Alisson’s absence.
Teen talent: the best of the statistics
- Liverpool’s goal marked the first time in Champions League history that a teenager, Neco Williams (19 years, 232 days), assisted another, Curtis Jones (19 years, 306 days), for a Premier League team. .
- Curtis Jones (19 years 306 days) is the third teenager to score for Liverpool in the Champions League after David N’Gog in 2008 (19 years and 252 days against PSV Eindhoven) and Trent Alexander-Arnold in 2017 (19 years and 10 days). days against Maribor).
- Caoimhin Kelleher is the first Republic of Ireland player to appear in the Champions League for Liverpool since Robbie Keane in December 2008 and only fourth for the Reds overall in the competition (Steve Finnan and Darren Potter the others).
- Liverpool have recorded four clean sheets in their last five Champions League games (2 goals conceded in total) after managing just one in eight before (12 goals conceded).
- Ajax have kept just a clean sheet in their last nine Champions League games after recording three shutouts in four games before that.
Whats Next?
Liverpool host Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday (19:15 GMT) before heading to Denmark for their final Group D match against FC Midtjylland on 9 December (17:55).
