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Jurgen Klopp said a “difficult” shot in rain-soaked Amsterdam left both sides “exhausted” in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Ajax.
The Reds began their Champions League campaign with three points and a clean sheet in their first game since Virgil van Dijk was ruled out with a long-term injury, with an impromptu center-back pair of Fabinho and Joe Gomez playing well in behind. and Nicolas Tagliafico’s unfortunate own goal that gave the visitors three points in the Netherlands.
Liverpool still found life difficult at times, with Fabinho needing to clear Dusan Tadic’s effort in the first half of the line and Davy Klaassen hitting the post from 20 yards within two minutes of the interval.
Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana was only seriously tested once before a flurry of opportunities in injury time when the hosts chased after a late draw, something that Klopp felt was largely due to conditions in the Dutch capital.
“We were good enough to win the game, that’s what you need,” he said. BT sport. “I think both teams can play better football, it was pretty wild at times. I think the field was really tough, deep, a bit muddy, both teams seemed really exhausted at first.
“Three days ago it seemed completely different, yesterday in training as well, but also for Ajax. They are where we are, at the beginning of the season, that can’t really be the reason.”
“You need to score a goal, we did it, we didn’t take advantage of our opportunities, which is a shame, they had a big one with the post directly after the break. When you’re 1-0 up, things can happen, but overall I’m very good with the game because it wasn’t our world-class soccer day, but in a tournament like the Champions League you need the result and we get it.
“It’s a good example of how the boys played; it wasn’t perfect but they fought like crazy, in that situation it helped a lot, but other than that, I really liked the fresh legs when we brought them in. The medical department told me Henderson couldn’t play them. 90 minutes, okay, he had 45 and he did very well. “
Sadio Mane’s effort was delivered by Nicolas Tagliafico for the only goal of the match
Another tactical move consisted of swapping Liverpool’s three regular forwards of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino for Takumi Minamino, Xherdan Shaqiri and Diogo Jota with an hour to play, something that Klopp felt revitalized his team during the final third of the game. .
“Managing the game is one thing, the power of the other three is another,” he said. “You saw they were the freshest, the hardest workers, it’s a shame Diogo didn’t score, Shaq was upbeat and Taki is a machine, he defends everywhere and then offensively he’s really involved.
“If we can make five changes to the matches during the week, we will probably have to do it most of the time.”
Fabinho ‘helped’ Liverpool’s defense
A man of the match performance by Fabinho in Van Dijk’s absence provided some encouragement as to how Liverpool could manage without his defensive talisman, and Klopp insists he would not have paired the Brazilian with Gomez had he not been comfortable he was content playing. as central.
The 26-year-old, who joined Liverpool from Monaco in 2018, has played just five games for the club in central defense, four of which have left a clean sheet for his team.
Klopp said in his post-match press conference: “Fabinho can play in the position, he actually likes to play. If I had asked him to play right back, I don’t think he would have enjoyed it that much, but in our situation at the moment. we have to keep these guys in shape and they can help us a lot.
Fabinho made a crucial punt from the goal line against Ajax
“Fabinho, I am not surprised that he played well there or we would have thought of a different solution, although that would have been very difficult. I am very happy tonight, happy for him, he gave him confidence and helped us.
“He was good, but even he can play better! This combination with Joe and Fabinho, I don’t think they have played together before, maybe once.
“They need to get used to each other, to the verbal demands in that position, to what you have to say to help the midfielders, so it was a good performance, but there is a lot to improve, which is good. How high or low is the last line at every moment? Counterpressing, how did we react there? It was absolutely good for tonight. “
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