Liverpool vs Ajax LIVE: Champions League result and final score as late Joel Matip goal earns dramatic win
Liverpool 2-1 Ajax: Matip’s header gave the Reds a vital three points on a night that looked as if it would end in more frustration
Joel Matip scored a dramatic late winner for Liverpool as they beat Ajax to get off their mark in the Champions League at Anfield.
After Anfield fell silent as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Mohamed Salah lifted the mood to give the Reds a much-needed response following last week’s humiliation at Napoli.
But Ajax, who thrashed Rangers in their first match, hit back after Liverpool missed chances to double their lead and the impressive Mohammed Kudus thundered a shot in off the underside of the crossbar to equalise.
Trent Alexander-Arnold whistled a shot wide before having a chance after cutting onto his left foot, and Diogo Jota then went close after half time. Substitute Darwin Nunez wasted an opportunity, Salah clipped the crossbar but just as the night looked as if it would end in more frustration for Liverpool, Matip rose at the back post to force the ball over the line with a powerful header.
Follow all the reaction from Anfield:
Liverpool bounce back to beat Ajax thanks to late Joel Matip winner
Arguably Jurgen Klopp’s first great European night at Anfield culminated in late winner from a centre-back sent up for a set-piece. If Ajax in 2022 may not yet belong alongside Dortmund in 2016, Joel Matip’s decider here might rank alongside Dejan Lovren’s against Klopp’s old employers six years ago in terms of its importance.
After the worst display of his reign and the nightmare in Naples, Liverpool required a response and a win.
In their energy and their organisation, in the individuals and the collective, they had improvement. But as long as Ajax were on course to take a point, there was a case for arguing the result could be still more damaging than their statutory setback in Naples...until Matip met Kostas Tsimikas’ corner to plant a header beyond Remko Pasveer and frustration was replaced by celebration.
Matip’s Champions League campaign had begun with a damage-limitation exercise, sent on at 3-0 down in Naples to try and prevent a still more embarrassing scoreline. Now, and at the other end, he saved Liverpool from dropping two points.
Vindication for Klopp, perhaps. He had brought four players into the side. Each played his part. Matip scored, Tsimikas and Diogo Jota earned assists and Thiago Alcantara lent class in possession. Just as pertinently, each played well. So did Liverpool, albeit imperfectly. On a day when they had 23 shots, they eventually mustered a second goal to ensure shortcomings in either box did not cost them.
Rich Jolly reports from Anfield:
Liverpool bounce back to beat Ajax thanks to late Joel Matip winner
Liverpool 2-1 Ajax: Mohamed Salah’s opener was cancelled out by Mohammed Kudus before a last-minute header was signalled to be over the line to ensure the Reds bounced back with a win
Liverpool 2-1 Ajax
A much-needed victory for Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp’s full-time reaction betrayed that fact - a clenched fist of relief as much as celebration and a few low key words with his staff.
That response, that improved performance, was a minimum. The win a big bonus!
FT - Liverpool 2-1 Ajax
Full time! It took a while to come but all that pressure - and all those corners - certainly paid off in the end for the Reds.
This was far from vintage Liverpool and it will take a good bit more than this result to get back their confidence and aura, and the fear in the opposition come to that, but they have got the points and the victory they so badly needed.
90+3’ - Liverpool 2-1 Ajax
Final minute of stoppage time. Ajax going long now but Liverpool have been winning set pieces in the air all night; they’re not going to lose a header in open play now.
The Reds will be going joint-top of the group with Ajax, with two games against Rangers to come next.
Liverpool sub: Bajcetic on for Thiago.
90’ - Liverpool 2-1 Ajax
Four minutes added on and now it’s Liverpool slowing it down. James Milner is coming on and Luis Diaz gets a massive ovation from the crowd as he departs. Blind is fuming with the ref for not sending the winger around the pitch from the far side.
GOAL! 89’ - Liverpool 2-1 Ajax
Liverpool might have won it now!! From the corner after that Salah strike, Matip rises and yet again wins one in the air, he powers it past the keeper and although it’s headed straight out by a defender on the line, the ref signals and it’s in - turns out he was behind the line by a yard!
What a huge moment that could be for the Reds.
89’ - Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
Salah almost wins it! A shot on the turn hits Bassey on the knee, spins up and over Pasveer...and bounces wide off the post!
Last minute of the 90 and then we’re down to how much the ref wants to punish some fairly evident timewasting from the visitors.
86’ - Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
Diaz this time does well, running behind the defence and lashing a low cross inside the six-yard box with Diaz at the far post - Pasveer somehow gets a vital touch on the ball and it just evades the Colombian.
Ajax sub: Kudus off, Brian Brobbey on
83’ - Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
Oh Darwin Nunez, it’s a massive chance. Firmino puts Salah clear and he could probably shoot but squares for Darwin instead - and the Uruguayan scuffs it well off-target. He’s got to at least hit the target and from that distance it would simply be in.
Timber now has cramp for a few moments. Suspect one or two of his teammates might follow suit, although perhaps they should bear in mind what happened at this ground with Newcastle not too long ago when they also invoked rather too much gamesmanship.
Fabio Carvalho is still on the bench, by the way.
80’ - Liverpool 1-1 Ajax
Into the last ten. Thiago skips around a challenge and curls one at goal, but it’s well held.
Van Dijk heads at goal again, Bassey blocks it with his face, then clears it and then goes to ground when Tsimikas tries to cross it back in. The ref stops play. Van Dijk is incensed.
Grillitsch is on for Taylor for Ajax.
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