Liverpool were desperate for a win when hosting Ajax in the Champions League, and though they came on late, a Joel Matip header eventually sealed a 2-1 win.
Liverpool 2-1 Ajax
Champions League group stage (2), AnfieldSeptember 13, 2022
Goals
Fake 17′ (assist – Jack) Kudus 27′ ​​​​Matip 89′ (assist – Tsimikas)
After the mother of all collapses at Napoli a week earlier, Liverpool needed a big response at Anfield, with an unbeaten Ajax away for the second Group A game.
The Reds were arguably the more dominant team in the opening stages, buoyed by a home crowd who were denied a weekend game after the game with Wolves was postponed.
It was fitting, then, that a chorus of Mohamed Salah’s song was followed by an opening goal from the Egyptian, who latched on to a Diogo Jota pass and fired to the right of Remko Pasveer, the goalkeeper having previously not conceded in nine hours of action.
There was an almost immediate comeback from Ajax, with Steven Berghuis’ offside hitting the crossbar from close range, while both Jota and Luis Diaz shot wide as confidence grew.
But familiar weaknesses were revealed again before the half hour mark, when Liverpool’s defense split to allow Mohammed Kudus to elude Virgil van Dijk and score the equaliser.
Brilliant, direct play from Matip and Diaz led to a chance for Trent Alexander-Arnold when he cut to the left, but Pasveer was available for a double save to keep things level at halftime.
HT: Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
There was no change at half-time as Jurgen Klopp expected more of the same, with a more consistent defensive effort, on his side as the atmosphere bubbled up at Anfield.
However, Liverpool were continually frustrated, either by the strength of Ajax’s backline or the lack of fluidity in their own passing game, with the right side particularly struggling.
Two forwards appeared as Klopp turned to Roberto Firmino and Darwin Nunez, and with Jota and Harvey Elliott breaking through, the Reds took a 4-2-3-1 attacking form.
Desperate to pick up the pace but largely unable to do so, Liverpool almost conceded a second of the night when Premier League alumni combined, Daley Blind somehow headed a Dusan Tadic cross wide.
A clever move involving Matip, Firmino and Salah saw the No. 11 put on Nunez, but the Uruguayan was unable to score his shot, while later, on a deflected shot, Salah hit the post.
But from that corner, Matip appeared to drive in a header to seal a vital victory for Liverpool – their first three points of the Champions League group stage.
TIA Man of the Match: Chemical Coast
Referee: Artur Dias (POR)
Liverpool: Alison; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Elliott (Firmino 66′), Thiago (Bajcetic 90+4′); Salah, Diaz (Milner 90+1′), Jota (Núñez 66′)
Unused Subs: Adrian, Davies, Gomez, Phillips, Arthur, Carvalho
Ajax: Pasveer; Rensch (Sanchez 68′), Timber, Bassey, Blind; Alvarez, Berghuis, Taylor (Grillitsch 81′); Mountain wine, Tadic, Kudus
Unused Subs: Stekelenburg, Gorter, Klaassen, Brobbey, Ocampos, Kaplan, Lucca, Baas, Regeer, Magallan
Next game: Brighton (H) – Premier League – Saturday 1st October, 3pm (BST)
