Liverpool vs Ajax

Liverpool look to bounce back from a hammering at the hands of Napoli as they host Ajax in the Champions League.

— BT Sport website/app - Tues, Sep 13 It kicks off at 8 p.m. Liverpool play host to Ajax at Anfield in Liverpool, England.

Liverpool look to bounce back from Napoli defeat against Ajax in the Champions League.

[Arsenal’s Europa League contest against Dutch side PSV Eindhoven](/sport/football/arsenal-fixture-cancelled-europa-league-psv-queen-death-b2165372.html) - which was scheduled for Thursday evening - was also called off earlier on Monday for similar reasons. In the earlier kick-off, fellow Premier League side Spurs have lost 2-0 away to Sporting CP - both strikes there coming in stoppage time. We are just about ready for kick-off at Anfield. No Champions League anthem and the only rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone came from the fans. Liverpool vs Ajax latest news Tsimikas eventually blazes miles over but it’s already a more energetic effort than we saw from those in red a week ago in Naples. Lots of confidence in possession at the back from the visitors but Liverpool get their pressing game on show early on and force Bassey into an error. It’s pretty clear they are waiting to see just how the team pick themselves up after a poor few weeks and the comments made by manager Jurgen Klopp. The Dutch side have scored 25 goals in seven fixtures earning a sixth straight domestic win at the weekend. [ suggested that the Reds need to re-invent themselves](/sport/football/liverpool-wolves-jurgen-klopp-b2162928.html) but they haven’t been able to play as the Premier League postponed last weekend’s fixtures as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Last time out they were [handsomely swept aside 4-1 at Napoli](/sport/football/liverpool-napoli-score-result-champions-league-b2162217.html) in a performance that failed to impress [Jurgen Klopp](/topic/jurgen-klopp). Liverpool 0-0 Ajax

Anfield will host its first Champions League match of the season as Liverpool take on Ajax this evening, with Thiago and Diogo Jota both in the starting lineup.

[Mohamed Salah](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/mohamed-salah/) starts on the right-side of Liverpool’s attack, with [Luis Diaz](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/luis-diaz/) on the opposite flank and [Diogo Jota](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/diogo-jota/) through the middle. [Fabinho](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/fabinho/) will anchor the midfield, alongside [Harvey Elliott](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/harvey-elliott/) and the returning [Thiago](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/thiago/). [Alisson](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/alisson/) retains his place in goal, and will be hoping he won’t be nearly as busy tonight as he was at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona last week. [Alisson](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/alisson/); Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; [Fabinho](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/fabinho/), Elliott, [Thiago](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/thiago/); Salah, Diaz, Jota [Adrian](https://www.thisisanfield.com/tag/adrian/), Davies, Gomez, Phillips, Bajcetic, Milner, [Arthur](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/arthur/), Carvalho, Nunez, Firmino [Trent Alexander-Arnold](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/trent-alexander-arnold/) starts at right-back, [Joel Matip](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/joel-matip/) comes into the side alongside [Virgil van Dijk](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/virgil-van-dijk/), with [Kostas Tsimikas](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/kostas-tsimikas/) at left-back. [Fabio Carvalho](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/fabio-carvalho/) back in the squad after missing the trip to Napoli through injury. [Champions League](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/champions-league) match of the season as Liverpool take on Ajax this evening, with [Thiago](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/thiago/) and [Diogo Jota](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/diogo-jota/) both in the starting lineup. [Premier League](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/premier-league) encounter against [Chelsea](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/chelsea) postponed, and an international break on the horizon. [Jurgen Klopp](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/jurgen-klopp/) will be keen to ensure his side go into the break in good spirits, with a positive result required here to get Liverpool’s [Champions League](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/champions-league) campaign up and running.

Liverpool left it late, but they managed to beat Ajax in the Champions League with a late winner from Joël Matip. This is what we spotted.

He was just unable to force it into the net. He arguably fluffed his lines when Salah shuffled the ball into his path, failing to beat the goalkeeper from close range. It is bordering on irresponsible to be so reliant on him, but the fact of the matter is that he remains crucial to any success this season. It is hard to get too excited about his return, amid the constant fear he could be out again at any moment. Even when coming on at 4-1 down against Napoli, he showed what he brings to the team. And though he has rightly earned a reputation as a marksman, the key thing he brought to the table here was link-up. Taking it well, he won the smallest pocket of space against But Alexander-Arnold got sucked in, leaving acres of room for the winger to utilise. It was then a simple ball to Liverpool dominated for large periods — and not just in terms of possession, but in terms of the balance of chances. The forward gave a firm reminder that he intends to push for a starting berth. But no striker can really match up to the Brazilian at his peak in this department, and the former Wolves man is undoubtedly underrated.

Kickoff at Anfield is 8pm (UK), the referee is Artur Dias (POR). Tonight's blog is run by Sam Millne, get involved by ...

[Adrian](https://www.thisisanfield.com/tag/adrian/), Davies, Gomez, Phillips, Bajcetic, Milner, [Arthur](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/arthur/), Carvalho, Firmino, Nunez [Alisson](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/alisson/); Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; [Fabinho](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/fabinho/), Elliott, [Thiago](https://www.thisisanfield.com/liverpool-fc/thiago/); Salah, Diaz, Jota We’re live to bring you the latest as Ajax visit Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool was in danger of starting the UEFA Champions League group stage in very poor fashion when Joel Matip (and GDS) stepped forward.

And after generating close to $220 million in player sales, Ajax seem to have done some brilliant business in the transfer window. Mexico midfielder Edson Alvarez will perhaps be the next star to leave Ajax and Liverpool would love to have the midfield solidity he brings. Liverpool faced Ajax in the 2020-21 UEFA Champions League group stage and won both games 1-0. The only other time they’ve played each other in European competition was in this competition in 1966, as Johann Cruyff inspired a 5-1 win in Amsterdam in the first leg, as a 2-2 draw at Anfield in the second leg led to a 7-3 aggregate win for Ajax over Liverpool. Liverpool have won just two of their seven games in all competitions to start the season and with Mohamed Salah also scoring just twice so far, plus Darwin Nunez taking time to settle, there is concern that Liverpool may get stuck in this rut. Ajax will look to take full advantage of Liverpool’s current malaise as Dusan Tadic continues to captain the side and create problems galore with his clever flicks and passes. The reigning Dutch champions have made a habit of causing upsets in the Champions League and going on deep runs in the competition in recent seasons. Everybody’s hoping it just goes in the right direction and you get the setback and you could see the impact of that. Add in their brilliant display of forward running and high-pressing against Rangers and this is exactly the type of team Liverpool don’t want to face right now. So halftime 1-1 and it was clear we had to go back to how we started because it was intense for Ajax, too.” The pressing before their goal was much better than after their goal and we only talk about a yard or two in these moments. They say a lot to put us down, but we know the last game was unacceptable and this was a step in the right direction.”