AMSTERDAM — Liverpool ran out 3-0 victors against Ajax in Amsterdam as they confirmed their place in the final 16 of the Champions League.
Ajax started the match the better of the two sides and should’ve been 2-0 up after 35 minutes, but it was Liverpool who went into the break 1-0 to the good and against the run of play after Mohammed Salah chipped past an on-rushing Remko Pasveer.
The second half saw Liverpool take control of the match and they added two more through the head of Darwin Nunez and another from Harvey Elliott, who hammered home their third. By that point, Ajax fans started to abandon their seats and filter out of the Dutch stadium.
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Liverpool will need a huge win against Napoli next week at Anfield if they are to top Group A. For Ajax, this defeat marks the end to their Champions League run and they need a point against Rangers if they are to secure a spot in the Europa League.
ESPN’s Tom Hamilton has more reaction and analysis from Johan Cruyff Stadium.
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Rapid reaction
1. After slow start in Champions League, job done for Liverpool
Had you offered this outcome of qualifying for the knockout stages with a game to play to Jurgen Klopp back late evening on Sept. 7, he’d have taken it in a heartbeat. Back then he’d just seen his Liverpool team collapse to a 4-1 defeat to Napoli in their group opener. It looked to be a reality check but in this season of mixed fortunes and outlier results, it was the only blip to their Champions League campaign so far this term.
Liverpool were lucky at times on Wednesday evening. Steven Berghuis should’ve scored after just two minutes but hit the post from just yards out with Alisson to beat, while Dusan Tadic had a great chance blocked by Trent Alexander-Arnold. Both came in the first 35 minutes — the odd split second serendipitous shift and Liverpool would’ve been 2-0 down.
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But then came those moments which change matches, and sometimes seasons. Jordan Henderson‘s delightful, bewitching pass found Salah who dinked it over the on-rushing Pasveer to give Liverpool that 1-0 lead in the 42nd minute. From there they added two more early on in the second half and Ajax were chasing shadows, unable to live up to the beat of the drum demanding more from their unwavering supporters.
This was a case of job done for Klopp. There were some concerning moments as the defence opened up, but there were far more familiar sights of Liverpool past and present as they were clinical in front of goal. A 3-0 win at Ajax is not something to downplay and progressing to the knockout stages with a game to spare is a feat given where they started.
