Liverpool booked their place in the Champions League knockout stage with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Ajax on Wednesday night.
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| IMAGE: Liverpool's Darwin Nunez celebrates after scoring his side's second goal vs Ajax The Reds kept the Dutch giants at bay in the opening half before pulling away. |
Jurgen Klopp's men entered the match knowing a win or a draw would see them through, and they did just that, meaning they've made it out of the group stage in every Champions League campaign under the German.
It all started so well for Ajax when Steven Berghuis was presented with a glorious chance after three minutes, only for the Dutchman to fire off the post from point-blank range.
The chance sent a bolt of energy through the Johan Cruyff Arena, as Ajax continued to trouble Liverpool for most of the first half, Dusan Tadic seeing another fine opportunity blocked by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
All that changed when Liverpool took the lead three minutes before the break. After winning the ball in midfield the Reds pushed forward, with Mohamed Salah deftly dinking Jordan Henderson's cross over Remko Pasveer.
The goal sapped Ajax of their confidence as Liverpool added a second four minutes after the break, Darwin Nunez holding off his marker before steering his header into the bottom corner.
Liverpool sealed their spot in the next round three minutes later after some fine interplay was finished by Harvey Elliott, who unleashed a fierce strike into the roof of the net.
The Reds welcome group leaders Napoli to Anfield on the final matchday, but only a big win - more than 4-1 - would deny the Italian side of first in Group A.
Player ratings
Ajax: Pasveer (4), Timber (6), Bassey (6), Blind (6), Sanchez (6), Alvarez (6), Klaassen (7), Bergwijn (6), Brobbey (7), Tadic (6), Berghuis (6).
Subs: Wijndal (6), Kudus (6), Taylor (6), Grillitsch (N/A), Conceicao (N/A)
Liverpool: Alisson (7), Alexander-Arnold (6), Gomez (6), Van Dijk (6), Robertson (7), Fabinho (6), Henderson (7), Elliott (7), Salah (8), Firmino (7), Nunez (7).
Subs: Jones (6), Carvalho (6), Bajcetic (6), Milner (7), Tsimikas (N/A)
Man of the match: Mohamed Salah
Defensive solidity
After the game, Liverpool defender Andy Robertson highlighted the fact that Liverpool didn't concede while also stressing the importance of the first goal.
"I don't think we calmed down quick enough at the start of the game, but the important thing was we didn't concede," Robertson said to BT Sport after the game.
"We managed to keep things tight and score the first goal. We settled down after that and started to play our football. It's always nice to get through before the last game.
"Darwin [Nunez] was very angry about missing that chance in the first half. I'm not sure he could understand a word I said, but I told him at half-time he'll score from the next cross I put on his head.
"A couple of the younger lads were able to come on towards the end. We started to control the game and ended up keeping a clean sheet, which at a place like this is great. We're very happy to be through."
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