Ajax vs Liverpool Champions League result, final score and reaction as Reds seal qualification - live
Ajax 0-3 Liverpool: Reds got the point they needed to qualify for the knockout rounds thanks to a comfortable win in Amsterdam
Liverpool overcame a slow start to beat hosts Ajax FC 3-, ensuring a top-two finish in Group A and progress into the knockout stage of the Champions League.
Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead against the run of play three minutes before half-time and they then took command after the break with two quick goals from Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott to claim a convincing triumph.
The victory kept them three points behind leaders Napoli, who won at home against Rangers in Italy at the same time to make it five out of five in the group.
Napoli will be at Anfield next Tuesday to decide top spot, when Liverpool would need victory by at least 3-0 to edge the Serie A leaders on the head-to-head result between the two after losing 4-1 in Naples in September.
Relive the action as Liverpool beat Ajax in the Champions League:
Darwin Nunez on target as Liverpool beat Ajax to reach Champions League knockouts
It was a journey from ignominy to respectability. It is the story of Liverpool’s group, starting with the worst performance of Jurgen Klopp’s reign, before a run of four successive wins constituted such a fine salvage job that qualification was secured with a game to go. It was a theme of Liverpool’s night, with a wretched first 35 minutes giving way to an emphatic victory over Ajax.
It was the tale of Darwin Nunez’s evening, too. His first half brought an extraordinary miss, his second a rather more forgettable finish but the Uruguayan’s fourth goal in five games was the second of three Liverpool scored in an 11-minute burst.
The classier strikes came courtesy of Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott; as Ajax followed Barcelona, other semi-finalists in 2019, in exiting in the pool stages, Liverpool ensured they will be in the last 16, albeit almost certainly as runners-up to the all-conquering Napoli side.
Darwin Nunez on target as Liverpool beat Ajax to reach Champions League knockouts
Ajax 0-3 Liverpool: Nunez’s header was sandwiched by strikes from Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott as the Reds rubber-stamped their qualification
FT Ajax 0-3 Liverpool
Here’s how Group A looks with one game remaining. Napoli and Liverpool are through ito the last 16 but Liverpool can finish top if they defeat the Serie A side by four goals or more in the final group stage fixture.
1. Napoli - 15pts
2. Liverpool - 12pts
3. Ajax -3pts
4. Rangers - 0pts
FT Ajax 0-3 Liverpool
With a goal and assist tonight, Mo Salah (51 - 39 goals, 12 assists) has become the third player to be directly involved in 50+ goals for English clubs in the Champions League, after Ryan Giggs (69) and Thierry Henry (52).
Full-time: Ajax 0-3 Liverpool
90+3 mins: There goes the final whistle. Liverpool are into the Champions League knockout rounds!
Goals from Mo Salah, Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott has given them a comfortable victory in Amsterdam and they can relax ahead of their final group fixutre against Napoli now.
After a shock defeat to Nottingham Forest at the weekend Jurgen Klopp’s men needed this result and it should spur them on ahead of Leeds United coming to Anfield on Saturday.
Ajax 0-3 Liverpool
88 mins: The players are going through the motions now, running down the clock. The tempo and intensity has been all but depleted.
It’s a top performance from Liverpool who had to weather an early storm before racking up three goals in 10 minutes either side of half-time.
They’re heading for the round of 16.
Ajax 0-3 Liverpool
83 mins: Wijndal crosses one in from the left side and the ball skims off the top of Alvarez’s head but bouncing through to Sanchez. He sends another cross into the middle but this one goes over everyone and lands safely for Liverpool.
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