Ajax vs Rangers LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction as Ajax notch comfortable win
Ajax 4-0 Rangers: Gers lose heavily in their first Champions League match in 12 years
Ajax built a commanding early lead before overwhelming Rangers 4-0 in Champions League Group A at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Edson Alvarez, Steven Berghuis and Mohammed Kudus scored in a one-sided first half and Steven Bergwijn added the fourth 10 minutes from time to complete the rout.
It was a dominant display from a new-look Ajax, who sold several key players over the summer, and lost head coach Erik ten Hag to Manchester United, but still proved far too strong for the Scottish side - last season’s Europa League runners-up.
Borna Barisic did have a goal disallowed for the Gers after an offside in the build-up but they were largely outclassed.
Relive all the action as Ajax beat Rangers in the Champions League:
GOAL! Napoli 1-0 Liverpool (5’, Zielinksi)⚽️
5 mins: Piotr Zielinski converts from the spot! Napoli take a very early lead. Liverpool are rocking.
Penalty to Napoli!
Napoli 0-0 Liverpool
4 mins: The referee has given Napoli a penalty. He’s saying Milner’s deflection was a handball and the replays show he’s correct. Shocking start from the visitors.
Napoli 0-0 Liverpool
3 mins: Meret attempts to slide Osimhen in behind with a direct forward pass but Virgil van Dijk intercepts this time and boots the ball away.
Napoli come again and dink the ball over to Andre-Frank Anguissa on the left side. He pulls the ball back to Matteo Politana who shoots and has his shot deflected wide by James Milner.
Kick off: Napoli 0-0 Liverpool
Napoli get the game going at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium. They knock the ball around at the back before goalkeeper Alex Meret flicks it into midfield.
The homse side recover the ball and work it over to Giovanni Di Lorenzo on the right wing. Victor Osimhen makes a cutting run through the Liverpool back line and brings the ball under control as it comes over the top.
Alisson flies out to close him down but the striker shifts it around the goalkeeper and rattles the post with his side-footed effort!
What a start.
Pre-match thoughts of Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp spoke to BT Sport before kick off saying: “It could be, but just as important is that you play football here. It could become quite hectic, emotional, aggressive, these kinds of things but you have to take that and respond.
“It’s not an easy place to come because of the atmosphere people can create here. The only way you can bring that atmosphere slightly down is by playing well so that is what we will try.
“They have what you need. It is about defending really together, really compact and we have to go and be brave. Everyone has to be responsible. Offensively we can cause them problems so let’s give it a go.
“They are always strong. They have had a good start to the season and had a good season last year. The main thing is yes, the teams change, but the people here don’t change. They make sure you don’t forget you are here and we know that now.”
Jurgen Klopp hopes for fourth time lucky as Liverpool travel to Napoli
Jurgen Klopp hopes it will be fourth time lucky as the Liverpool manager looks to finally win at Napoli when last season’s Champions League finalists kick-off their quest for continental glory on Wednesday.
It is just over three months since the Reds suffered a gutting 1-0 defeat in the final to Real Madrid on a night marred by chaotic scenes outside the Stade de France.
Liverpool have been drawn alongside Ajax, Rangers and Napoli this time around and get Group A under way at the cavernous Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday evening against the latter.
But Klopp has not enjoyed the best of times on his previous visits to Naples, having lost 2-1 with Borussia Dortmund in 2013 before losing 1-0 with the Reds in 2018 and 2-0 the following year.
Jurgen Klopp hopes for fourth time lucky as Liverpool travel to Napoli
The Reds get Group A under way at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday evening
Good memories for Napoli
Liverpool have only lost one of their last 12 opening matches in a Champions League campaign - though that was at Napoli in 2019/20.
The Reds also lost here the season before and are yet to win in Naples under Jurgen Klopp.
FT Ajax 4-0 Rangers
Against Rangers Mohamed Kudus was only the seventh player in the last 15 years to both score a goal, assist a goal and not misplace a single pass in a Champions League match.
He became the first to do it since Serge Gnabry in 2020 vs Barcelona.
Milner starts for Liverpool
James Milner captains the Reds this evening having made his 600th Premier League appearance against Everton at the weekend.
Speaking to the club’s website after the game, the 36-year-old said: “I feel good and you’re a long time retired, so I want to keep playing for as long as I can.
“Let’s face it, there are worse places to be playing football than for Liverpool Football Club. It’s great to be here, I enjoy the pressure and I enjoy the drive.”
Napoli vs Liverpool
Rangers have suffered back-to-back 4-0 defeats in their last two matches and their Champions League campaign is off to the worst start possible.
Reaction from Rangers’ defeat still to come but the focus moves to Italy as Liverpool prepare to take on Napoli in their opening European fixture.
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