Michael
The Reds victorious against Ajax in the Champions League with a 2-1 win at Anfield.
Liverpool ignited their Champions League campaign and possibly their season as they claimed a dramatic win over Ajax on Tuesday night.
Jurgen Klopp described Liverpool’s 4-1 defeat at Napoli last week as the worst game of his seven-year tenure and the Reds responded with an improved display against Ajax. Liverpool deserved the 17th-minute lead given to them by Mohamed Salah’s 15th Champions League goal at Anfield surpassing Steven Gerrard’s record and could easily have been further ahead by the time Ajax struck back.
Mo Salah is now four goals away from being the highest scoring African player in the history of the Champions League.
Joel Matip’s header secured a first three points in Group A for the Reds, who had been comprehensively beaten by Napoli in their first outing last week.
Mohammed Kudus took his goal superbly against the run of play and Liverpool palpably lost confidence thereafter. Yet despite not being at their riproaring best, the home side kept plugging away and found the breakthrough a minute from time as Joel Matip headed home Kostas Tsimikas’ corner. Klopp looked more relieved than ebullient at confirmation the ball had crossed the line. This is only Liverpool’s fourth win from nine matches across all competitions but it will feel like a big step in the right direction.
Liverpool ended this game with 23 shots but the highest individual number came from an unlikely source: Virgil van Dijk. Ajax’s vulnerability from set-pieces or really any high ball into the box was obvious and the Liverpool centre-back never had a better chance than when left unmarked from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 35th-minute delivery.
Although he did not get on the scoresheet, Jota showed off quality, enthusiastically leading the press and linking play impressively – most notably in setting up Mohamed Salah’s goal.
What a performance from our No.6 Thiago Alcantara, his absence from the squad for the early part of the campaign has been telling. A Thiago mesmeric masterclass against Ajax was witnessed at Anfield, demonstarting that he really is one of the most aesthetically pleasing footballers in world football, with his highlights going viral.
The Reds will face Brighton at home on Oct 1st in the EPL, followed by their next Champions League match against Rangers on Oct 4th
