Liverpool controlled their first game Virgil van Dijk unscathed when Nicolas Tagliafico’s purpose gave them a 1-0 Champions League victory at Ajax.
Tagliafico came over with Sadio Mane’s failed shot to divert him past Andre Onana 10 minutes before halftime in what would turn out to be the sole purpose of the game in an open game at the Johann Cruyff Arena.
Liverpool kept a welcome blank leaf despite the absence of their Talisman defense, central defender Fabinho proved to be a more than arrogant replacement as a side, denying Dusan Tadic on the line with acrobatic clearing before halftime.
Former Everton midfielder Davy Klaassen nearly chased his former rivals within two minutes of the time, but was rejected by the post with Adrian defeated, while liverpool goalkeeper also made vital stops on both sides of Quincy Promes.
But Liverpool defended their club for the top component in an evening when they passed their first check to the world’s highest defender in their ranks.
How would Liverpool cope with Van Dijk’s absence?After a clever start in Amsterdam, things were temporarily complicated for Jurgen Klopp’s impromptu back line.
Fabinho announced his arrival in Liverpool’s defence with two appropriate early tackles to deny Tadic and David Neres in their own area, but it may not be long since Tagliafico allowed Ryan Gravenberch to turn around and feed, whose low 20-metre effort whistled. close to publishing.
The hosts got closer in the parttime when Klaassen allowed to pass by the same flank to place Promes in the domain who, after exchanging passes with David Neres, came face to face but rejected by a reflection of Adrian. .
Moments later, he made it to repent of his fault when Liverpool served with more than a touch of intelligent fortune. After diverting Perr Schuurs from a raid, Mane’s sceric shot was a long way before deflecting an unbalanced Tagliafic beyond Onana with a crazy purpose opposite to his side.
Ajax kept pushing, but was almost stuck at halftime for a moment when Andrew Robertson arranged a 50-yard run before locating Mohamed Salah, whose shot purposely blocked Noussair Mazraoui with Onana probably defeated.
But the hosts were inches from the break when Tadic threw a ball at Adrian in the last stage, so that Fabinho would return and produce an acrobatic clearing on the line.
Two minutes after the break, Ajax approached when Klaassen fired a first effort towards the pole from 20 yards with Adrian struggling to succeed in it.
Liverpool’s biggest risk for the peak of the moment came here from the stopped kicks, Fabinho about to finish off a good non-public function when his header from Robertson’s corner was deflected just past his own post through the awkward blow. by Onana.
In time, Klopp opted to upgrade the 3 Salah, Mane and Roberto Firmino by Xherdan Shaqiri, Takumi Minamino and Diogo Jota, the latter temporarily Schuurs before the defender recovered to block his punch from behind.
At the other end, an Ajax counterattack called Adrián in a rare save in the second half when Neres looked internally at Promes, who shot the first stick with an effort that the goalkeeper more than matched.
As the desire to pull down the kitchen sink in Liverpool became more desperate over time, the shortcomings of the house’s defence were also more evident.
Visitors had resisted Ajax’s ongoing attack long before doubling its merit in the final moments when Onana rejected Wijnaldum at halftime before Minamino’s rebound effort was also canceled.
There’s still time for Ajax to get close to the last chance of the attack when Adrian’s unconvincing punch at a Tagliafico centre became a purpose through Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, but he may not keep his efforts down and make sure Liverpool start their Champions League crusade with the most. Points. .
There is a long way to go so that Fabinho can become a pretty good substitute for the colossal figure of Virgil van Dijk, but his functionality in Amsterdam is at least a promising step in the right direction.
Of the matches that the Brazilian has covered as a midfielder, Liverpool have been left with 4 blank leaves. Wednesday night also owes a lot to its functionality at the center of the defense.
He showed intelligent surveillance to do two tackles one after the other on David Neres and Quincy Promes before half-time, but his coronation came by erasing Dusan Tadic’s effort from his own line of purpose to keep his blank sheet intact.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp told BT Sport: “We were smart enough to win the match. That’s what you need. I think either group can play better football, it was pretty wild at times. I think the terrain was hard, deep and muddy,” a little bit, both groups seemed exhausted soon.
“Three days ago it was absolutely different, in education too, but it was also the same for Ajax. We’re where we are, at the beginning of the season, that can’t be the reason.
“It’s a smart example of how kids played; I wasn’t the best, but they fought like crazy, in this scenario it helped a lot, but other than that, I liked new legs when we brought them, the Medical Branch Henderson told me that I just didn’t play the 90 minutes, that’s fine, he played forty-five and played very well. “
Liverpool will receive Sheffield United without winning on Saturday at Sky Sports Box Office; Start at 8 p. m.
Ajax also return to action on Saturday and face a VVV in the middle of the table; Start at 3. 30pm.