Liverpool are in the next round of the Champions League thanks to a 1-0 win against Ajax. Jones and Williams, both only 19, provided the only goal and reserve goalkeeper Kelleher secured the three points in the final. Ajax has to beat Atalanta on the final match day to push through.
Liverpool – Ajax in a nutshell
- Key moment: If you don’t take your chances yourself, the opponent will. A minute after Neres hits the post, it is Williams who makes grateful use of Onana’s camel.
- Man of the Match: At Liverpool they do not have to despair, because the succession of the current stars is assured. Curtis Jones played a hell of a game and also scored the only goal.
- Remarkable: Tonight a great series of Ajax comes to an end. The team from Amsterdam was unbeaten in the Champions League since July 2017. Seventeen matches in total.
The news at 1 pm with a report from Liverpool-Ajax
Intense first half with no goals
Liverpool’s infirmary was already bulging and another important name was added. Goalkeeper Alisson was injured in the run-up to the game and was replaced by the young Irishman Kelleher. At Ajax, Alvarez was the surprise at the kick-off. He had to provide more security in midfield.
Nevertheless, we got a very open initial phase. Jones was able to start immediately and on the other side there was a header from Schuurs. Even before the fifth minute, Jones again shook the aluminum with a hard place ball. After that Ajax took more initiative, although opportunities remained scarce. Antony was able to lash out once after a long drawn out attack.
The pace was very high throughout the first half. With the peace in sight, some opportunities fell from the sky. Kelleher had to turn a line from Mazraoui. Robertson then tried again with a hidden shot from the side, but hit the side net.
Young substitutes do it for Liverpool
The second half started faltering, until Ajax surprisingly came out of the corner with a quick free kick. Klaassen nodded Neres’s hard cross wide. Liverpool was immediately awake, although without realizing Salah hindered teammate Williams at a nice opportunity.
The game went back and forth and Ajax came very close to a goal. Kelleher turned Mazraoui’s slider, but could only watch Neres aim the rebound against the post. The goal literally fell from the sky on the other side. Onana generously miscalculated a Williams cross and Jones tapped the ball into an empty goal.
The Reds could now counter to their heart’s content, while the moth was in it with the visitors. However, Salah was not in his day and could not punish a misunderstanding between Schuurs and Onana. A little later he choked on a dribble. Onana made up for his blunder somewhat with a beautiful save on Firmino.
Liverpool seemed to make it to the end without any problems, but just before the added time substitute Huntelaar had another great chance at 1-1. Kelleher hit his header from close range and held onto the win. Liverpool push through, the Ajax players have to beat Atalanta on the last day of play.
