Ajax 0-3 Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp's side reach Champions League last 16

2 years ago 19

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Mohamed Salah clips Liverpool ahead against Ajax in the Champions League

Liverpool put their domestic woes behind them by reaching the Champions League knockout stage with a clinical second-half display against Ajax in Amsterdam.

Needing a draw to reach the last 16, the Reds were fortunate not to be behind before Mohamed Salah clipped in with their only shot on target of the first half.

Darwin Nunez, back in the starting line-up after injury, should have doubled the lead before half-time but the £64m summer signing struck a post with an open goal in front of him.

However, the Uruguay forward quickly made amends by powering in a precise header from Andy Robertson's corner shortly after the restart.

Moments later, England Under-21s midfielder Harvey Elliott added the third by latching on to Salah's reverse pass and lashing into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Liverpool knew a draw would be enough to clinch their spot in the last 16 for the sixth successive season.

But the comfortable victory means the Reds host Napoli in next week's final round of group-stage fixtures safe in the knowledge their place is assured.

More to follow.

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Ajax

Squad number22Player namePasveer
Squad number19Player nameSánchez
Squad number2Player nameTimber
Squad number3Player nameBassey
Squad number17Player nameBlind
Squad number6Player nameKlaassen
Squad number4Player nameÁlvarez
Squad number23Player nameBerghuis
Squad number7Player nameBergwijn
Squad number9Player nameBrobbey
Squad number10Player nameTadic

Squad number5Player nameWijndal
Squad number8Player nameTaylor
Squad number20Player nameKudus
Squad number21Player nameGrillitsch
Squad number35Player nameFrancisco Conceição

Liverpool

Squad number1Player nameAlisson
Squad number66Player nameAlexander-Arnold
Squad number2Player nameGomez
Squad number4Player namevan Dijk
Squad number26Player nameRobertson
Squad number3Player nameFabinho
Squad number19Player nameElliott
Squad number14Player nameHenderson
Squad number9Player nameRoberto Firmino
Squad number27Player nameNúñez
Squad number11Player nameMohamed Salah

Squad number7Player nameMilner
Squad number17Player nameJones
Squad number21Player nameTsimikas
Squad number28Player nameFábio Carvalho
Squad number43Player nameBajcetic

Line-ups

Ajax

Formation 4-3-3

22Pasveer
19Sánchez
2Timber
3Bassey
17BlindSubstituted forWijndalat 58'minutes
6KlaassenSubstituted forKudusat 58'minutes
4ÁlvarezSubstituted forGrillitschat 85'minutes
23BerghuisSubstituted forFernandes da Conceiçãoat 85'minutes
7Bergwijn
9BrobbeySubstituted forTaylorat 63'minutes
10Tadic

Substitutes

1Stekelenburg
5Wijndal
8Taylor
11Ocampos
15Rensch
16Gorter
18Lucca
20Kudus
21Grillitsch
29Magallán
35Fernandes da Conceição

Liverpool

Formation 4-1-2-1-2

1Alisson
66Alexander-Arnold
2Gomez
4van Dijk
26RobertsonSubstituted forTsimikasat 87'minutes
3FabinhoSubstituted forBajceticat 71'minutes
19ElliottSubstituted forCarvalhoat 71'minutes
14HendersonSubstituted forMilnerat 71'minutes
9Firmino
27NúñezSubstituted forJonesat 63'minutes
11Salah

Substitutes

5Konaté
7Milner
13Adrián
17Jones
21Tsimikas
22Ramsay
28Carvalho
43Bajcetic
47Phillips
62Kelleher

Referee:José María Sánchez Martínez

Live Text

Match ends, Ajax 0, Liverpool 3.
Second Half ends, Ajax 0, Liverpool 3.
Curtis Jones (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Owen Wijndal (Ajax).
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Owen Wijndal.
James Milner (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Kenneth Taylor (Ajax).
Foul by Stefan Bajcetic (Liverpool).
Steven Bergwijn (Ajax) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution, Liverpool. Konstantinos Tsimikas replaces Andrew Robertson.
Hand ball by Kenneth Taylor (Ajax).
Substitution, Ajax. Florian Grillitsch replaces Edson Álvarez.
Substitution, Ajax. Francisco Conceição replaces Steven Berghuis.
Attempt missed. Jurriën Timber (Ajax) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Steven Berghuis.
Attempt missed. Edson Álvarez (Ajax) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Jorge Sánchez with a cross.
Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Joe Gomez.
Foul by Stefan Bajcetic (Liverpool).
Mohammed Kudus (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Stefan Bajcetic (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fábio Carvalho.
Attempt missed. Steven Berghuis (Ajax) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Owen Wijndal.