For the sixth straight year, Liverpool has advanced to the knockout stages of the Champions League, an incredible streak that supporters should not take for granted. Under Jürgen Klopp, their domestic form has been more erratic than ever.
Once again, the Reds overcame a dismal domestic weekend to achieve a result in Europe, this time securing qualifying from the Champions League group stages with an ultimately assured victory over a talented but unprepared Ajax team.
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Darwin, the Reds’ designated Agent of Chaos, missed an absolute sitter at the end of the first half when he struck the post with the net gaping after Roberto Firmino had unselfishly — if, let’s be honest, somewhat imprecisely — set him up with a cutback across the goal. However, things were turned on their head tonight as opposed to this season, when Liverpool have been the team squandering chances while giving up goals from every shot on target the
Ajax had early opportunities, with Steven Berghuis hitting the post from close range in the second minute after receiving a deflected pass in the Liverpool box, but the ball didn’t go in, bucking the trend of 2022/23 thus far. And when they were given a glimpse, it didn’t go in.
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The game was decided in the ten minutes just before halftime thanks to goals from Harvey Elliott, who became the youngest Liverpool player to ever score in back-to-back Champions League games, a diving header from Nez, an instinctive chip from Mohamed Salah after some foreplay in the manner of a Brazilian player, Jordan Henderson, and another leaping header from Nez.
It was a glimpse of the kind of match-winning clinicality a great team often produces, proving that not every game needs to be a frenzied race from start to finish. After that, the game waned with Ajax accepting their faith and the Reds preserving their legs as best they could. I’d want to see that more frequently.
However, these slow starts have already eliminated Liverpool from realistic title contention in the Premier League, and if Klopp can’t find a solution, they’re sure to ruin their chances of winning other hardware as well. The Reds found their footing as Ajax wore down, and looked more and more assured as the game wore on.
The result maintained them three points behind group leaders Napoli, who at the same time defeated Rangers at home in Italy to make it five wins out of five.
Next Tuesday’s match between Napoli and Liverpool at Anfield will determine who finishes first. Liverpool needs to win by a score of at least 3-0 to surpass the Serie A leaders after falling short 4-1 in Naples in September.
Ajax needed a two-goal victory on Wednesday to maintain their tenuous Champions League aspirations, but they will now square off against Rangers in Glasgow the following week for a place in the Europa League.
Rangers are failed to build an account while the Dutch team has three points.
