DBasia.news – Liverpool confirmed their ticket to the last 16 of the 2022-2023 European Champions League after beating Ajax 3-0.
Starting this season’s UCL campaign with Napoli 4-1, the Reds raged and recorded four consecutive wins in Europe.
This fifth matchday victory, the result of goals from Mohamed Salah (42′), Darwin Nunez (49′), and Harvey Elliott (51′), became the determinant of their qualification from Group A. However, Jurgen Klopp’s troops still have to fight for the status of group winners this weekend against Napoli.
As the host, Ajax appeared better than Liverpool at the beginning of the match and even almost broke into Alisson’s goal through Steven Bergwijn in the 36th minute.
But the Reds actually destroyed all the momentum and broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute thanks to Jordan Henderson’s superb pass.
The Liverpool captain crossed with the outside of his right foot from the left, a precise cross that fell in front of Mohamed Salah’s path. The Egyptian star then headed the ball over the head of goalkeeper Remko Pasveer with one strike to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
Liverpool should have doubled their lead just before the interval when Andy Robertson found Roberto Firmino in front of goal. The Brazilian striker then fed the ball to Darwin Nunez who faced a practically empty net, but his shot only hit the post.
However, the Uruguayan bomber made amends in the second half, in the 49th minute when his header from Robertson’s corner was unable to be saved by Pasveer.
Less than two minutes later, Liverpool added to their advantage. Mo Salah’s ball cut went through Ajax’s defense beautifully, and Harvey Elliott completed the pass beautifully too, a shot that hit the post of Ajax’s goal.
Lineup:
Ajax (4-3-3): Remko Pasveer; Jorge Sanchez, Jurrien Timber, Daley Blind, Calvin Bassey; Davy Klaassen, Edson Alvarez, Steven Berghuis; Steven Bergwijn, Brian Brobbey, Dusan Tadic (c).
Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson; Jordan Henderson (c), Fabinho, Harvey Elliott; Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino, Darwin Nunez.