Liverpool 1-0 Ajax: Reds advance to Champions League knockout stage

By Neil JohnstonBBC Sport

Last updated on 1 December 2020.From the section European Football904

Liverpool's Joel Matip in action with Ajax's Dusan Tadic during the Champions League Group D game at Anfield — Liverpool have secured a place in the knockout stage of the Champions League for a fourth successive season

Curtis Jones scored his first Champions League goal after a horrific goalkeeping mistake as Liverpool beat Ajax to win Group D and secure a place in the last 16.

Andre Onana misjudged the flight of Neco Williams' cross and 19-year-old midfielder Jones took advantage to score with the outside of his right foot.

Caoimhin Kelleher, deputising for first-choice keeper Alisson who was missing with a hamstring injury, also played his part in Liverpool's win, a tremendous stop to deny substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar the pick of his saves.

Former Everton midfielder Davy Klaassen wasted a great chance for the visitors and David Neres hit the woodwork.

Jones also rattled a post before his goal ensured Liverpool, with one game to spare, joined Premier League rivals Manchester City and Chelsea in the knockout stage.

Kelleher impresses in Alisson's absence

A surprise home defeat by Atalanta last week had threatened Liverpool's dominance in Group D, with the Italians and Ajax closing in.

But Jurgen Klopp's side overcame their latest worrying injury setback to progress after an open and entertaining game at Anfield.

Liverpool are four points clear at the top of Group D with one game left

It was far from straightforward for the Reds, Klaassen heading wide for Ajax when he should have scored, while Neres was denied by the woodwork after Kelleher had done well to push away an attempt by young Brazilian forward Antony.

The 22-year-old's stop to deny Huntelaar, having earlier produced a one-handed save to keep out Noussair Mazraoui, was exceptional and at the final whistle Klopp went straight to the Republic of Ireland squad member to congratulate him on his performance.

With Atalanta held in Denmark by Midtjylland, Liverpool are four points clear with one game to go and uncatchable at the top.

Having already secured the group, Klopp will be able to rest players when the Reds face Midtjylland in Denmark in the final round of games on 9 December.

More injury woe for the Reds

On a night when captain Jordan Henderson made his first club start since 8 November after injury, Liverpool revealed their first-choice keeper had become the latest player to join the list of casualties.

Their campaign has been littered with injury setbacks and Alisson's hamstring problem, which is likely to rule him out of Sunday's league game with Wolves and next week's European game, means the Reds are now without nine senior players with matches coming thick and fast.

Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher keeps out a header from Ajax's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar — Caoimhin Kelleher is the 11th goalkeeper to appear for Liverpool in the Champions League but only the second to keep a clean sheet on his debut for the Reds in the competition after Chris Kirkland in 2002

Midfielder Naby Keita (thigh) and right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold (calf) are close to returning.

But Virgil van Dijk (knee) is out for a prolonged period while there are no return dates for Joe Gomez (knee), Xherdan Shaqiri, James Milner (thigh), Thiago Alcantara (knee) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee).

Klopp's decision to opt for Kelleher in Alisson's absence raises questions about the future of Spanish keeper Adrian, who has often filled in when the Brazilian has been missing.

The veteran of more than 200 competitive appearances for Real Betis, West Ham and Liverpool watched from the bench as Kelleher provided a calming presence in Alisson's absence.

Teenage talents - the best of the stats

Liverpool's goal was the first time in Champions League history one teenager, Neco Williams (19 years and 232 days), assisted another, Curtis Jones (19 years and 306 days), for a Premier League side.
Curtis Jones (19 years and 306 days) is the third teenager to score for Liverpool in the Champions League after David N'Gog in 2008 (19 years and 252 days v PSV Eindhoven) and Trent Alexander-Arnold in 2017 (19 years and 10 days v Maribor).
Caoimhin Kelleher is the first Republic of Ireland player to appear in the Champions League for Liverpool since Robbie Keane in December 2008 and just the fourth for the Reds overall in the competition (Steve Finnan and Darren Potter the others).
Liverpool have registered four clean sheets in their past five Champions League games (2 goals conceded in total) after managing just one in eight before that (12 goals conceded).
Ajax have kept just one clean sheet in their past nine Champions League games after registering three shut-outs in four games before that.

What's next?

Liverpool host Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday (19:15 GMT) before heading to Denmark for their final Group D game against FC Midtjylland on 9 December (17:55).

Player of the match

KelleherCaoimhin Kelleher

with an average of 7.62

Liverpool
Ajax

Liverpool

Squad number62Player nameKelleher
Average rating
7.62
Squad number17Player nameJones
Average rating
7.60
Squad number26Player nameRobertson
Average rating
7.19
Squad number3Player nameFabinho
Average rating
7.09
Squad number76Player nameN Williams
Average rating
7.00
Squad number14Player nameHenderson
Average rating
6.99
Squad number20Player nameDiogo Jota
Average rating
6.87
Squad number32Player nameMatip
Average rating
6.87
Squad number9Player nameRoberto Firmino
Average rating
6.82
Squad number5Player nameWijnaldum
Average rating
6.81
Squad number46Player nameR Williams
Average rating
6.76
Squad number10Player nameMané
Average rating
6.73
Squad number11Player nameMohamed Salah
Average rating
6.49

Ajax

Squad number10Player nameTadic
Average rating
6.17
Squad number7Player nameDavid Neres
Average rating
6.01
Squad number6Player nameKlaassen
Average rating
5.93
Squad number39Player nameAntony
Average rating
5.88
Squad number8Player nameGravenberch
Average rating
5.88
Squad number3Player nameSchuurs
Average rating
5.86
Squad number31Player nameTagliafico
Average rating
5.79
Squad number17Player nameBlind
Average rating
5.78
Squad number4Player nameÁlvarez
Average rating
5.77
Squad number12Player nameMazraoui
Average rating
5.66
Squad number19Player nameLabyad
Average rating
5.60
Squad number23Player nameTraoré
Average rating
5.38
Squad number9Player nameHuntelaar
Average rating
5.28
Squad number24Player nameOnana
Average rating
5.10
Squad number21Player nameMartínez
Average rating
5.08

More to follow.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Liverpool

Formation 4-3-3

62Kelleher
76N Williams
32Matip
3Fabinho
26Robertson
17Jones
14HendersonBooked at 90mins
5WijnaldumBooked at 70mins
11SalahSubstituted forR Williamsat 90'minutes
20JotaSubstituted forFirminoat 68'minutes
10ManéBooked at 90mins

Substitutes

9Firmino
13Adrián
18Minamino
21Tsimikas
27Origi
46R Williams
56Jaros
64Cain
65Clarkson

Ajax

Formation 4-3-3

24Onana
12MazraouiSubstituted forHuntelaarat 86'minutes
3SchuursBooked at 42mins
17BlindBooked at 55minsSubstituted forMartínezat 86'minutes
31Tagliafico
6Klaassen
4ÁlvarezSubstituted forLabyadat 69'minutes
8Gravenberch
39dos Santos
10Tadic
7Neres CamposSubstituted forTraoréat 81'minutes

Substitutes

1Stekelenburg
2Timber
5Klaiber
9Huntelaar
11Promes
16Scherpen
18Ekkelenkamp
19Labyad
21Martínez
23Traoré

Referee:: Tobias Stieler

Match Stats

Home TeamLiverpoolAway TeamAjax

Possession: Home44%; Away56%

Shots: Home15; Away11

Shots on Target: Home5; Away4

Corners: Home1; Away6

Fouls: Home15; Away10

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Liverpool 1, Ajax 0.
90'+5'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Liverpool 1, Ajax 0.

90'+2'
Booking
Sadio Mané (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card.
90'+2'
Post update
Nicolás Tagliafico (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+2'
Post update
Foul by Sadio Mané (Liverpool).
90'+1'
Booking
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+1'
Post update
Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+1'
Post update
Foul by Jordan Henderson (Liverpool).
90'
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Rhys Williams replaces Mohamed Salah.
89'
Post update
Offside, Ajax. Zakaria Labyad tries a through ball, but Lassina Traoré is caught offside.
88'
Post update
Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Caoimhin Kelleher.
88'
Post update
Attempt saved. Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Ajax) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Antony with a cross.
86'
Substitution
Substitution, Ajax. Lisandro Martínez replaces Daley Blind.
86'
Substitution
Substitution, Ajax. Klaas Jan Huntelaar replaces Noussair Mazraoui.
85'
Post update
Attempt missed. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Roberto Firmino.
84'
Post update
Attempt missed. Sadio Mané (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jordan Henderson with a cross following a corner.
83'
Post update
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by André Onana.
83'
Post update
Attempt saved. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.
83'
Post update
Foul by Noussair Mazraoui (Ajax).
83'
Post update
Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.

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Comments

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904 comments

A 22 year old in goal, playing only his second senior game, a 19 year old in a barely recognisable defence and another 19 year old in midfield and we’ve just beaten Ajax to win the group. Ooh there’ll be some salty tears in here tonight. Don’t worry boys, you’ll never hate alone...
Leslie Thornton replied:
And you had to overcome the hurdle of Andy Robertson as well.
A true triumph in adversity.
When the job needed to be done, Liverpool get it done.

What a performance by Kelleher.
U19165408 replied:
Disgusting
Congratulations to Liverpool on reaching the last 16. Onwards they go.
The English and world champions have qualified and finished top. Happy days.

Wipe away those tears haters 😊
Miler1878 replied:
Is klopp not ranting tonight . Must of won then !!!!!
Great performance by another makeshift reds side. Brilliant, assured performance by Kelleher in goal and solid enough at the back. Yet another clean sheet with Fab at CB and means they can rest half the squad in Denmark. Job done, top of the group, and, no injuries! Uppareds!
LondonsFinestClub replied:
Kelleher was superb, definitely a top flight keeper. Strong, quick, alert and can play ball. Interesting to see if he goes out on loan next season . A star in the making. Needs more first team football. Liverpool will be happy to move on considering circumstances.
always a pleasure to watch two European greats. Remarkably Ajax more successful that all English teams except Liverpool. Liverpool through one game left with much weakened side. Looking ominous.
Last week every single Man U fan was on here telling us we were out, just looked at the table and we’ve topped the group with a game to spare, you lot will never learn will you
Make shift defence, 1st choice keeper injured and yet we still manage to beat a team that’s averaging 5 goals per game, over to you now PSG
Don’t think we’ll be hearing from the usual suspects tonight
stevecee replied:
PSG need a win tomorrow. Should be a nervy night for the mouthy Mancs
Good match that.
All the young uns: Kelleher, Neco, Curtis showed guts. Well done Reds
LondonsFinestClub replied:
Result was a fair reflection of play. Good game.
We go this group and people said bye bye Liverpool! 2019 we got told same thing that we wouldn’t win champions league last year we were going to slip up and city would catch us! Jota was over priced and wolves laughing to the bank, VVD out and Liverpool would fall apart! I just love my team that keeps proving people wrong! Through to knockout stage and joint top of prem! Yes we really bad 😂
Binnycraig replied:
Selling Jota was good business.
Phew...next Wednesday off for the main squad, time to recoup.
Miler1878 replied:
Running out of plasters ???
Come On You Reds! Going through to knockout stage and joint too of the Prem! And all with more than half the regular players out!😎
toffee81 replied:
You're not joint top . You're 2nd .
"Fact"
Come on Liverpool.

Let’s have all 4 English teams in the semi finals please.
U19165408 replied:
Except for liverpool
Trolls won't like that one!

At least Klopp can change the entire team next week so he won't moan on the Saturday!

Come on PSG!
Miler1878 replied:
Of course he will
A HYS before the game ends? How odd. BBC let the inturn loose again
The-Artful-Dodga replied:
Made good use of their 5th sub
The key now for Liverpool is to pick up / grind out PL wins any way we can until we get our injured players back. Will be great to have Allison, Trent, Thiago, Alex Oxlaide Chamberlain, Shaq, Naby Keita and James Milner back fit and firing (and eventually VVD and Joe Gomez). Nine big players out and still challenging in the big two competitions. Wow.
Faye 1968 replied:
Bravo to Klopp and his backroom team. Doing amazing at the moment. Go once more on Sunday then a rest for the first team, I’d hope so.
Well played pools keeper. Great game. Referee, not so much.
TheNightmanCometh replied:
"Referee, not so much."

...Elaborate?
Well done the Cork lad between the sticks.

Superb
LondonsFinestClub replied:
Seems to be a top player like Keane and Irwin also from Cork.
What a night for Caoimhin Kelleher, Adrian should never be close to first time ever again.
kevincroston replied:
Behave your self always saying when de gea has a mint game that he is bob and one game wont change that and then you say your keeper has a good game and he should replace adrian lol
Lucky meaning they're not playing well but seem to be doing just enough,hence the goal.

Ajax have been tough.Yeah,be good to see 4 teams in next round.

City labouring also.

Wonder why HYS is open early?
Lightning-F57 replied:
Im just glad Klopp can rest the main team next Wednesday now topping the group the Mijitland game is a dead rubber.
Did anyone honestly had any doubt that Liverpool would not do it?

Well played.

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