Liverpool fought back from a dismal low to secure a 2-1 win over Ajax that could just jump-start their season. It wasn’t perfect. But it was so much better than the shambles we saw in Naples last week.
The Reds relied upon a late header from Joel Matip to secure a vital three points and as the referee pointed to his watch to confirm the ball had crossed the line you could feel the relief in the Anfield celebration. There was joy in the air, but it wasn’t the barmy celebration that a late winner usually brings. It was pure relief, after a torrid start to the season in both this competition and the Premier League.
It felt like a special Anfield night from the start and this was a much-improved performance. Match-winner Matip came in to replace Joe Gomez, who had a nightmare last time out but the real difference came in midfield. Instead of James Milner and Jordan Henderson alongside Harvey Elliott, Liverpool boasted Fabinho and Thiago. The Brazilian is the comfort blanket the Reds need when things get frosty while Thiago is, well, Thiago.
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The Spaniard is an outrageously good footballer, who has been held back by injuries over his career. Now fully fit, his presence provided a huge difference for Jurgen Klopp who now could rely on a magician in midfield to keep hold of the ball in tight areas and pick out deadly passes when needed.
Klopp knows how good his first choice team is, but his squad has an obvious lack of depth that has been exposed over the last month, and is ultimately why they can’t compete with Manchester City domestically. But those problems are to worry about for another day. Importantly, especially in those opening stages it felt like the dominant Liverpool of old were back.
They had 13 attempts to Ajax’s one. Mo Salah, who ended his mini goal drought with the opener on the night, peppered the goal alongside Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota. The Egyptian had gone four games without a goal, with no goal in his last seven appearances in the Champions League but he found the net with a trademark left-footed finish. Diaz won a crucial header for Jota and he fed Salah who took one touch before finding the back of the net.
Liverpool looked good after that goal. Their tails were up as Diaz cracked one wide from inside the box before Jota did the same from the edge of the area. Liverpool were on top. It all felt good around Anfield. Then they were caught on the counter and dealt a bodyblow that exposed just how fragile they still are.
Then Ajax broke away down the left as Trent Alexander-Arnold was caught out and Mohammed Kudus, fresh from his goal against Rangers, crashed home a finish that silenced Anfield. The Ghanain has already shown his immense ability this season with six goals to his name, and found space in the area to thump one past Allison, who could not have stopped that one had he been stood on a step ladder in the top corner.
When they are full of confidence, we have seen in the past how unstoppable Klopp’s team are. But this season they have been a shadow of their former selves and were brielfy unsure of themselves after that equaliser. But this time, they kept on plugging away.
The aforementioned Thiago made such a difference in the middle. At one point, he didn’t even need to touch the ball as he dummied a pass to send Kostas Tsimikas on his way. There’s no doubt that he and Fabinho are Liverpool’s two best midfielders while Virgil van Dijk and Matip were utterly dominant from attacking set pieces. It was a factor that would eventually decide the match.
From Tsimikas’ corner, Matip rose highest to force the ball over the line for his first Champions League goal since December 2013 and Anfield breathed the biggest sigh of relief. It’s job done on the night and the Reds are on the board in Europe. They may have another weekend off domestically, but this was a confidence boosting step in the right direction. Klopp knows just how big this win may prove.
