LIVERPOOL left it late but WON their big Champions League clash with Ajax 2-1 at Anfield.
Joel Matip scored the decisive winner in the 89th minute after Mohammed Kudus had equalised from Mohamed Salah’s opener in the first-half.
- RESULT: Liverpool 2-1 Ajax
- Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas, Fabinho, Thiago, Elliott, Diaz, Salah, Jota
- Ajax XI: Pasveer, Timber, Bassey, Alvarez, Bergwijn, Taylor, Tadic, Rensch, Blind, Kudus, Berghuis
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That’s all from Liverpool
Liverpool beat Ajax 2-1 in a dramatic Champions League encounter at Anfield.
The Reds opened the scoring with Mohamed Salah, who broke his duck in the competition after just 17 minutes.
Luis Diaz beat Jurrien Timber in the air to win a long ball by Alisson and that allowed Diogo Jota to gain possession and pass to his right for the unmarked Salah, who beat Remko Pasveer with a clinical shot.
But Ajax equalised just 10 minutes later when a clever through ball by Daley Blind played Steven Berghuis behind Liverpool’s backline.
Berghuis cut back inside the area where Steve Bergwijn left the ball for Mohammed Kudus, who beat Alisson with a powerful shot after he rattled the post.
But Liverpool wouldn’t be denied as Joel Matip, who put together a stunning performance, scored the winner just one minute before full-time.
Kostas Tsimikas, who also stood out, delivered a pinpoint corner-kick from the left and found Matip who headed the ball over the line before Jorge Sanchez cleared it.
That’s all from us at SunSport, have a great night!!!
Credit: GETTY Jurgen Klopp reacts
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp praised his players for putting together a “complete different shift” than the one they did at Napoli.
Klopp told BT Sport: “We had to put a complete different shift into the game. We played a lot of good stuff against a hard fighting opponent.
“It’s another test and everyone was hoping it goes in the right direction. The pressing before the goal was good. A little bit more intensity. Was clear we had to go back to how we started.
“The pressure we put on, finally one of the many set-pieces we had led to the goal. Nice.
“Nothing is over. It is a first step but a very important one. Now we have a strange break. Pretty long. We have to hope and pray the boys come back healthy”
Credit: GETTY Joel Matip reacts
Liverpool ace Joel Matip scored the winner against Ajax one minute before full-time.
Matip’s header went over the line before it was cleared by Jorge Sanchez, but the centre-back didn’t know.
The Cameroonian told BT Sport: “A few opportunities before and I was happy I could score that goal.
“I wasn’t sure [that is had crossed the line], to be honest, but when I saw the referee emotion came out”
Credit: GETTY
Liverpool’s standout players
Liverpool picked up a last-gasp 2-1 win over Ajax at Anfield with stars like Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Thiago Alcantara putting together a very good performance.
But two other players seemed to have been a little more crucial against the Dutch champions.
Joel Matip was rock-solid at the back and proved to be very critical in the build-up of the Reds’ attacks as he moved the ball very well before scoring the winner.
And it was Kostas Tsimikas who created that goal after a stunning performance that saw him dominate down the left and produce a number of pinpoint crosses
Credit: GETTY Credit: GETTY Updated table
Liverpool moved to second place in the Champions League’s Group A.
The Reds are just below Napoli, who have a game in hand as they face Rangers on Wednesday at Ibrox.
Ajax are third after winning their Champions League opener against the Gers last week.
More below:
Liverpool vs Ajax stats
Liverpool dominated 58 per cent of possession throughout the match.
The Reds produced a total of 23 shots, nine of which where were on target.
Ajax, on the other hand, registered, only three shots, one of which was on target.
And that, of course, was Mohammed Kudus’ equaliser in the first half
FT: Liverpool 2-1 Ajax
Liverpool beat Ajax in a dramatic Champions League encounter at Anfield.
The Reds opened the scoring with Mohamed Salah, who broke his duck in the competition after 17 minutes.
Luis Diaz beat Jurrien Timber in the air to win a long ball by Alisson and that allowed Diogo Jota to gain possession.
Jota passed to his right for Salah, who was unmarked and had no problem beating Remko Pasveer with a clinical shot.
But Ajax equalised just 10 minutes later when a clever ball by Daley Blind played Steven Berghuis behind Liverpool’s backline.
Berghuis cut back inside the area where Steve Bergwijn left the ball for Mohammed Kudus, who beat Alisson with a powerful effort after he rattled the post.
But Liverpool wouldn’t be denied as Joel Matip, who put together a brilliant performance, scored the winner just one minute before full-time.
Kostas Tsimikas, who also stood out, delivered a crisp corner-kick from the left and found Matip who headed the ball over the line before Jorge Sanchez cleared it
Credit: GETTY FT: Liverpool 2-1 Ajax
Peep!
That’s all in Liverpool!!!
Liverpool 2-1 Ajax
90+4 Substitution
Another switch by Liverpool boss Klopp as Bajcetic comes on for Thiago
Liverpool 2-1 Ajax
90+1 Substitution
Liverpool boss Klopp makes a late change to halt the tempo with Milner replacing Diaz
Liverpool 2-1 Ajax
90 Four more minutes of stoppage time to go.
Can Liverpool hold on?! They certainly look more than capable!
Liverpool 2-1 Ajax
89 Liverpool may have finally done it, and it’s Matip who scores it after a wonderful performance!
Tsimikas delivers another stunning corner-kick from the left and finds Matip whose header is cleared by Sanchez.
But the referee deems that the ball went over the line and Anfield erupts!!!
Liverpool 2-1 Ajax
89 Goal!
Liverpool score a second with Matip!!!
Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
86 Substitution
Ajax boss Schreuder calls out Kudus, who gives his place to Brobbey, who was linked with Manchester United in the summer
Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
85 What a chance!
Liverpool come just a whisker away again!
Nunez delivers a ball from the left to Diaz whose alone in front of open goal.
But Pasveer gets an important touch and the ball goes behind Diaz!
Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
83 What a chance!
Liverpool star Firmino plays it to Salah in the box down the right and he breaks it to Nunez whose shot just misses Pasveer’s bottom right corner!
Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
81 Substitution
Ajax boss Schreuder brings on Grillitch, who replaces Taylor
Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
80 Game is halted as Bassey hurts his head during a challenge.
Thankfully he gets back up to his feet.
Can Liverpool score a second in the final 10 minutes of the game?!
Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
78 Chance
Liverpool ace Thiago tries a long-range shot that goes straight to Pasveer.
Ajax’s defence and midfield have been doing such a good job keeping the Reds away from the box and are forcing them to efforts from distance
Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
75 What a chance!
Ajax come so close to a second!
Tadic has all the space down the right and delivers a cross to the far corner where Blind is but his header just misses Alisson’s left post!
Credit: GETTY Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
74 Chance
Liverpool ace Alexander-Arnold delivers a crisp corner-kick from the right and finds Matip whose header goes out for a free-kick
Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
73 Ajax are doing well controlling the tempo and not letting Liverpool up the ante.
But there are spells in which the Reds dominate, mainly because they have been holding most of possession since kick-off
Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
71 Ajax become dangerous as Berghuis plays Kudus behind Liverpool’s defence down the right but his shot is blocked by Alisson from a tight angle.
Doesn’t matter, though, as the striker is caught offside
Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
70 We can expect Liverpool to find more space with Salah, Firmino, Diaz and Nunez on the pitch.
Ajax, though, are currently holding up well. It’s so hard to raise the tempo against Schreuder’s team…
Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
68 Substitution
Ajax boss Shreuder responds with a change of his own as Sanchez replaces Rensch
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
