Liverpool kicked off their Champions League campaign against Ajax on Tuesday, with Diogo Jota and Thiago playing big roles in victory after returning to the starting line-up.
The Reds needed a reaction after an embarrassing result against Napoli last week, and the team’s overall performance against the Dutch champions was much improved.
A big reason for that was the changes Jurgen Klopp made to his starting lineup. Jota, making his season debut after recently recovering from a hamstring injury, pressed well from the front, while in midfield Thiago was simply the best player on the pitch.
The other two players who entered the team were Joel Matip and Kostas Tsimikas, with the former scoring the winning goal with a minute to go in regulation time.
Jota, however, had been waiting for this moment for a long time, having first suffered a hamstring problem on international duty at the end of the previous campaign, before suffering a setback during pre-season.
“It has been frustrating for me because I couldn’t be there helping the team,” Jota told Athletic.
“It’s always a lot more complicated when you’re on the outside looking in, but that’s over and that’s fine.
“I want to establish myself here in Liverpool as an important player. I can only do that if I’m fit. These are things that happen in the life of a footballer and you have to deal with them. I’m back and I’m ready to go.”
Some eyebrows were raised when the Portuguese striker was chosen to lead the line ahead of Darwin Nunez, but Klopp’s decision paid off.
Nunez came on in the second half to help lead the Reds to victory, and Jota has no doubt the Uruguayan will eventually prove a worthy replacement for Sadio Mane, who left for Bayern Munich in the summer.
“Darwin didn’t play too many games even with the expulsion he received,” added Jota.
“Instead, Sadio played in this team for a long time and was used to everything. It’s a pretty big change, but if we keep playing like this, it will be easier for Darwin and for everyone.”
After the match, Liverpool players took to social media to express their delight at a crucial victory under the Anfield lights, with Thiago particularly happy!
Liverpool will now go 17 days without a game, after this weekend’s Premier League meeting with Chelsea was postponed, and an international break on the horizon.
It was vital that the Reds end a difficult period with a win on Tuesday, and we hope they can build on that momentum in a busy October schedule.
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