Liverpool, Ajax | An own goal secured Liverpool all three points in a game with Ajax

AJAX – LIVERPOOL 0-1:

Liverpool racked up three points in Wednesday’s Champions League meeting with Ajax and are therefore off to an excellent start to this season’s tournament.

It was an even match in Amsterdam where both teams had their big chances. The decision fell in the first half, when Nicolás Tagliafico put the ball into his own net.

Liverpool had to do without profiles such as Thiago Alcantara, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker. But where Fabinho impressed as a midfielder in van Dijk’s absence, the goalkeeper’s situation in Liverpool has long been in question.

Annoyed adrian

After the first round, this was again a topic in the Viasport studio.

Even before the match, Viasport expert Morten Langli went a long way in killing the Spaniard. Langli thought that he did not maintain the required level in Liverpool.

He believed, among other things, that Adrian costs Liverpool one or two more goals per game than first goalkeeper Alisson Becker, and furthermore he believed that former Liverpool goalkeepers like Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius have a much higher level than the veteran.

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A couple of implications from the Liverpool goalkeeper at first seemed almost to rile Langli and fellow expert John Arne Riise. Especially an episode where Adrian was ready to attack in a duel where midfielder Joe Gomez seemed to be in full control.

– There is bad communication. Has nothing to do. He gets so close to Gomez that he can’t play the ball on him either, Langli said.

– He almost tackled his own player, the expert continued.

Former Liverpool defender Riise continued:

– You see that Gomez is stunned. What are you doing there? in Riise.

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Praise to Fabinho

It is worth mentioning that while there was a lot of negative attention directed at the Liverpool goalkeeper, he also kept up with some major stops in the settlement and remained at zero.

– It is always important to start well. It was a tough away game and we met a good team so you win a bonus. Ajax were well organized and played good football. We had a bumpy week so it was important to fight and we did it. I expect so from this group of players, James Milner tells BT Sport.

The captain especially singled out Fabinho from Wednesday’s game.

– He is a top player and the best players can adapt. He did. He has played saves before and played very well. I also think it was a good team performance, because it was tough, a physical war in difficult conditions, he says.

Great opportunities from Ajax

It was the home team that created the biggest opportunities in the beginning. After 21 minutes, the talented Ryan Gravenberch set the pace and played with Quincy Promes. He passed Dusan Tadic, who found his way back to Gravenberch. The youngster shot from about 20 meters away, but the shot went just outside the goal.

Before Ajax created their first big chance, Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian was once again insecure as a last chance. First he went out to tackle in a duel with Joe Gomez, then he took a long time when he went to play the ball.

The Spaniard guards Liverpool’s cage while Alisson Becker is out with an injury. However, there has been a lot of debris in the machinery in the veteran goalie game.

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After 33 minutes, the hosts were dangerous again at the front. David Neres got on the far post after a nice attack play and recorded for Promes facing the goal. Adrian rushed to catch the ball just before the Ajax player set foot.

Tagliafico’s own goal

A great opportunity for Ajax to take the lead, but should instead hit the other end of the field. Sadio Mané took the ball and parried Perr Schuurs. Then he put speed into the field and tried to cross. In front of the goal, Nicolás Tagliafico was left without pressure and put the ball into his own goal behind goalkeeper Andre Onana.

A few minutes later Liverpool were on the move again. Andy Robertson set the pace and passed Mohamed Salah on the field. The Egyptian attempted a shot, but was quickly blocked. Roberto Firmino won the ball and headed back in front of the goal, but despite the stick and the babb inside the field, the home team finally cleared up.

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In the 44th minute, the visitors came in from the right after poor defense. Tadic received the ball in the back room and threw sensibly on an Adrian from mid-range. The ball was in good direction, but midfielder Fabinho was awake and having a hard time, barely dodging on the line.

Thus, Liverpool, somewhat fortunate, could go to the break with a 1-0 lead.

Hunted to equal

Ajax continued to create good chances after the break and shortly after the change of sides Davy Klaassen appeared. The midfielder, with a past at Everton, slipped from about 14 meters and the ball crashed into the post, between the line and the goalkeeper, and went out.

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After 59 minutes, the same man was on the move again. Once again, Klaassen squeezed in from a distance. This time Adrian was in the notes and saved very well.

Half an hour before the end, Liverpool made three changes to the team. Takumi Minamino, Xherdan Shaqiri and Diogo Jota entered, while Mané, Salah and Firmino came out.

In the last minutes there was a lot of fighting and not great chances. In extra time, however, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp had a chance after another weak intervention from Adrian.

The goalkeeper hit the ball directly into the legs of the Ajax player, who scored an open goal, but the youngster could not control the ball under the crossbar.

In this way, the guests could take all the points home.