It was another late victory for Liverpool, with Joel Matip’s goal sparking celebrations of euphoria and relief at Anfield after recovering from a performance that was described as a “horror show”.
The Reds had to put up a better performance on Tuesday night after the nightmare that was Napoli six days earlier, and while the victory came in death, it was duly deserved.
Jurgen Klopp’s side could have beaten Ajax several times, such were their chances in front of goal, but it was the combination of Mohamed Salah and Matip that got the job done.
The celebrations for the latter were joyful and you could feel the relief in the air after coming close to the prospect of going into a 17-day break without a win to help us.
Here are four things fans noticed after the valuable Champions League win.
9 years ago… the scare!
“That was a long time ago!” Are Joel Matip AND Virgil van Dijk shocked to learn when the former last scored a Champions League goal? Never change MatipVia @btsport pic.twitter.com/tQNMnSWqtD
— May (@May26LFC) September 14, 2022
Matip’s goal sparked long-overdue celebrations and although he now has ten goals for Liverpool, Tuesday night’s was his first in the Champions League.
It wasn’t a bad time to pull it off, but his and Virgil van Dijk’s surprise at learning it was Matip’s first goal in the competition for nine years is brilliant.
“That was a long time ago! Oh my gosh!” – that’s one way of putting it.
Before his goal against Ajax, Matip’s last in the competition came back in December 2013 while at Schalke.
madness matip
One of the best things after a frantic goal celebration is to go back and see the reactions of the different players each time, it never disappoints.
This time was no different, from the late arrival of Kostas Tsimikas, the billboard feeling Matip’s passion, Thiago being one with The Kop and Van Dijk receiving a token of affection from a fan:
pic.twitter.com/fQqnkeKtgt
— The Liverpool Way (@theliverpoolway) September 14, 2022
I love Joel Matip’s big kick at the billboard celebration
Great farewellpic.twitter.com/ArHiMbTQEc
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) September 13, 2022
pic.twitter.com/QkrkQ9c8eb
— No Context Joel Matip (@NoContextJMatip) September 14, 2022
We love the craziness a Matip goal creates.
Love for the Greek Scouser
While Thiago and Joel Matip drew much applause after the victory, Tsimikas’ role was not forgotten in what was only his second start of the season following an injury to Andy Robertson.
A creative outlet at one end and defensively solid at the other, you certainly have an argument if he were your Man of the Match:
Tsimikas was quietly brilliant there tonight. He wouldn’t be in a hurry to cut him off the team if he keeps performing like this.
— Joel Rabinowitz (@joel_archie) September 13, 2022
Kostas Tsimikas created 5 chances tonight assisting Joel Matip’s goal. It is the most he has created in a single game for Liverpool.
He is averaging an assist every 74 minutes this season and every 240 minutes in his #LFC career. #LIVAJA
— Michael Reid (@michael_reid11) September 13, 2022
Possibly Tsimika’s best game since we signed him, he was truly flawless.
— Gregoris Gkousis (@Gregoris96_YNWA) September 13,
Killer krosses from Kostas and his work rate makes him mom to me. Thiago also stands out but the Greek Scouser was brilliant.
– Skippy Johnston? (@LukeAFoley) September 13, 2022
Crazy Tsimikas stat of the day:
Liverpool have scored from set pieces in 7 of their last 9 starts. pic.twitter.com/dlkKDm8J15
– The Mans (@el_mansfield) September 14, 2022
I mean, just look at her passion alone…
Costas Tsimikas. That is all. pic.twitter.com/KFKNtaWlJI
— Saqib Mahmood (@SaqMahmood25) September 13, 2022
Those Thiago things…
Thiago vs Ajax pic.twitter.com/thxSpnamvr
— ° (@lfcMuh) September 13, 2022
I really don’t need many words for this, Thiago’s magic says it all…
Imagine throwing your first push of the game and then Thiago does this with his first passpic.twitter.com/wlAnvZ9ZLN
– Erik Elias (@erikelias_) September 14, 2022
Catching up with Kostas…
Tsimikas has had extraordinary attacking production from LB this season and last for Liverpool (well, maybe not that extraordinary by his full-back standards). He is also quite an avid defender and excels at 1v1 with the ball, he is also quite good at tackling. pic.twitter.com/mQBFlVyvBF
— smarterscout (@smarterscout) September 14, 2022
Thiago??
Full match vlog: https://t.co/VsddcecLJj pic.twitter.com/ecXhMIvg0L
— The Red Men TV (@TheRedmenTV) September 13, 2022
What a player.
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