Liverpool overcame a poor start to defeat Ajax Amsterdam 3-0 on Wednesday, securing a top-two finish in Group A and advancing to the round of 16 in the Champions League.
Three minutes before halftime, Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool the lead against the run of play. After the break, two quick goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott gave Liverpool a decisive victory.
The result put them three points behind group leaders Napoli, who triumphed 3-0 at home against Rangers to finish with five wins and maximum points.
Napoli will visit Anfield on Tuesday to determine the Serie A’s top spot, with Liverpool needing at least a 3-0 victory to surpass the Serie A leaders on the head-to-head tiebreaker after losing 4-1 in September.
This Harvey Elliott goal is absolute quality!
Incredible strike 🤩
📺 Stream #UCL live: https://t.co/Tg69y0m5GD pic.twitter.com/dt9KGenZGb
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) October 26, 2022
Ajax needed to win by two goals on Wednesday to keep up their slim Champions League hopes but will now be battling with Rangers in Glasgow next week for a Europa League spot.
Ajax needed to win by two goals on Wednesday to keep their Champions League ambitions alive, but now they will compete with Rangers in Glasgow for a Europa League spot next week.
The Dutch club has three points, while Rangers have yet to record a single point.
Steven Berghuis smashed an early shot against the upright as Ajax opened with verve and a surprising physicality that disturbed the Liverpool defense.
It resulted in tense interactions amongst the players, symbolic of what was at stake in the Johan Cruyff Arena match.
The game abruptly and decisively swung in favor of Liverpool when Salah lofted the ball perfectly over Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer as he ran out of goal after receiving a pass from captain Jordan Henderson.
Nunez wasted a simple tap-in opportunity at the back post after Roberto Firmino’s unselfish assist, striking the upright with his attempt within the first minute and a half.
Four minutes into the second half, Nunez made apologies with a powerful glancing header off a corner kick, and two minutes later, Elliot won the match with a goal.
After being set up by Salah’s brilliantly weighted ball, he blasted a thunderous shot into the roof of the net from an extreme angle.
“We had a difficult half-hour in which Ajax exerted significant pressure and we had to defend with great zeal. You must pass through these stages “said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
“Then, we scored a truly remarkable goal. Second half, we got off to a fantastic start, scored two magnificent goals, and then dominated the game. We have advanced to the elimination rounds, and I will never take that for granted.”
The Dutch club have three points while Rangers are yet to open their account.
Steven Berghuis crashed an early effort against the upright as Ajax began in lively fashion and with an unexpectedly physical approach that unsettled Liverpool’s defence.
It ensured some edgy exchanges between the players, indicative of what was at stake in the contest at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
The game turned suddenly, and firmly, in Liverpool’s favour when skipper Jordan Henderson’s outstanding pass, delivered with the outside of his boot, was met with an equally proficient finish from Salah who lofted the ball expertly over Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer as he rushed out of goal.
It might have been 2-0 within 120 seconds as Nunez squandered an easy tap-in at the back post after an unselfish pass from Roberto Firmino, striking his effort against the upright.
Nunez made amends four minutes into the second half with a strong glancing header from a corner and the contest was over two minutes later when Elliot scored.
He thrashed a powerful shot into the roof of the net from an acute angle after being set up by a perfectly-weighted pass from Salah.
“We had a tough half an hour where Ajax made a lot of pressure and we needed to defend with a lot of passion. You have to get through these phases,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
“Then we scored a goal which was absolutely exceptional. Second half we really had a good start, scored two wonderful goals and then controlled the game really well. We are through to the knockout stages and I will never take that for granted.”