A late header from Joel Matip helped Liverpool pick up their first win in Europe this season as they edged Ajax 2-1 at Anfield. The Reds, who had been thrashed 4-1 in Italy last week by Napoli, looked like they’d have to settle for a single point at home until Matip’s 89th minute header from a Kostas Tsimikas corner broke Ajax’s resistance.
Matip and Tsimikas were among four changes made by Liverpool gaffer Jurgen Klopp from the side that had lost in Naples, with Thiago Alcantara and Diogo Jota also coming into the XI. Out went the quartet of Joe Gomez, Andy Robertson (injured), James Milner and Roberto Firmino. Ajax, who had demolished Rangers 4-0 in their opener, kept faith with the same XI that had done the business against Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side.
The Reds’ first goal was more down to route one rather than the tiki-taka you’d normally expect from Klopp’s men. Alisson’s long punt was won by Luis Diaz, and the ball fell to Jota, who set up Mo Salah for an easy finish. It was an important goal in the scheme of things, giving the Reds the lead and also breaking Salah’s goal drought in the process.
Trent Alexander Arnold could probably consider himself fortunate not to be dropped after the performance at the San Paolo, and his defending was again exposed for Ajax’s equaliser as he failed to track the run of Steven Berghuis. The latter’s ball fell to Mohammed Kudus, who took one touch to get the ball to his stronger left foot, and then unleashed an absolute rocket that Alisson could do little to stop. It clattered in off the underside of the bar, and Ajax were level at Anfield.
The hosts made most of the play, but to no avail until Matip’s late header found it way in. Ajax skipper Dusan Tadic tried his best to clear it off the line, but goal line technology ruled that the Cameroon international’s effort had snuck in, much to the relief of the the 52,387 in attendance at Anfield.
Liverpool have been very inconsistent this season and Klopp will be hoping that this isn’t a false dawn for his side. The unintended league and international break could also not have come at a better time for the Reds, who have won only two of their six league games so far, and have managed to find the back of the net only six times in those fixtures.
Ajax didn’t create much, but will be ruing Daley Blind’s late miss. The former Manchester United star found himself in a good position at the far post (Alexander Arnold again poor at the back!), but his header was just wide. On the balance of play, Liverpool probably deserved victory (24 shots to Ajax’s 3). Thiago’s return also made a massive difference- they were so much better in the centre of the park with him pulling the strings.
The Reds will now next be seen in action against Brighton, a side that had a great start to the season, but have lost manager Graham Potter to Chelsea. How much his exit affects the Seagulls remains to be seen, but Liverpool will be quietly confident of beating their South Coast opponents at home.