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Launching a Champions League campaign with an away win would satisfy Jurgen Klopp under normal circumstances. Doing so after a wildly turbulent and damaging week, with the added bonuses of a clean sheet and a change of fortune, was a reminder of the European pedigree that the Liverpool manager has at his disposal even without the injured Virgil van Dijk.
Luck played an important role in Liverpool’s victory at Ajax and local full-back Nicolás Tagliafico resolved the result with an inexplicable own goal. Klopp will feel that it is the least his Premier League champions deserve after the injuries that clouded the preparation and determination that dragged his team over the line in Amsterdam. With Joel Matip left on Merseyside as a precautionary measure, having also taken a hit at Goodison, Klopp had no choice but to trade Fabinho to center back alongside Joe Gomez.
The defensive midfielder can get used to that role in the coming months and there was an immediate ripple effect in Amsterdam. Jordan Henderson did not risk a second start in five days after recently returning from injury and, with Thiago Alcântara also out with a knee problem, there was a full Champions League debut for Curtis Jones and a third start for season for James Milner. . It was the veteran’s 108th appearance in a European competition. Jones was one when Milner made his Premier League debut.
Fabinho made a series of timely interceptions in the opening exchanges. One caused Mohammed Kudus to injure his right knee in an awkward landing, and the Ghanaian forward had to be replaced by Quincy Promes. However, the timing and awareness of the Brazilian’s danger were some of the few highlights of Liverpool’s defense. Perhaps uncertainty was to be expected in the visitors’ baseline as they started without Virgil van Dijk for the first time, but several unforced errors intensified Klopp’s frustration on the wing.
The lack of communication between Gómez and Adrián caused them to collide with each other and give Ajax a throw-in after just two minutes. Liverpool also took the conservative option of returning the ball to their goalkeeper too often early on. The hosts sensed an opportunity, and Adrian was lucky enough to escape when a delayed punt hit the rushing Dusan Tadic but bounced back to safety. The Spanish goalkeeper produced the first stop of the match when Tadic found Lisandro Martínez unmarked at the back post after a well-crafted corner kick. The defender’s header made a routine save.
Ajax encountered little resistance going through Liverpool’s midfield. Ryan Gravanberch fired wide from the edge of the area and Promes should have opened the scoring after former Everton midfielder Davy Klaassen and David Neres combined for a clear opening inside the area. Promes, unmarked and only 10 meters from goal, fired straight at Adrian. Liverpool took advantage of the break in the most fortuitous way.
Despite all the disruption in defense and midfield, Liverpool were still able to draw on the formidable talents of their three established forwards. An excellent insurance policy. It took a big challenge from Danny Blind to prevent Roberto Firmino from clinging to Mohamed Salah’s rear heel in the penalty area. Sadio Mané was a constant threat from the left, but he engineered the advance without knowing much about it. The Senegalese international expertly stepped away from his marker as he picked up Milner’s throw-in. He then launched a full cross shot only for Ajax left-back Nicolás Tagliafico to steer the ball into his own net without pressure.
Liverpool, as dangerous in attack as they are open defensively, nearly doubled their lead when Andy Robertson cut through the Ajax half and found Salah in space inside the box. A vital block from Noussair Mazraoui prevented Salah’s shot from finding the far corner.
Tadic thought he had equalized when he clung to a long ball behind the Liverpool defense and threw the advancing Adrian. Fabinho rescued his team with a brilliant punt at the finish line. Liverpool immediately swept the other end and Mane nearly conjured a second own goal away from Ajax, only this time Perr Schuurs’ desperate attempt to intercept the forward’s center sailed inches from the near post.
Klaassen was unlucky enough not to level things out early in the second half when his first shot since Tadic’s firing hit the inside of a post. Klopp withdrew his entire front line on the hour, clearly with his sights set on the Premier League visit to Sheffield United on Saturday, as Diogo Jota, Xherdan Shaqiri and Takumi Minamino were tasked with bringing the threat to the reigning Dutch champions. .
Georginio Wijnaldum, Jota and the incisive Robertson came close to extending Liverpool’s lead in a second half that brought a more compact and improved defensive display from Klopp’s side.
