Ajaxtalk

Starting the thread a little early to note that all EPL matches are cancelled this weekend because of the passing of Queen Elizabeth. Liverpool will have some added rest and extra training to get ready for Ajax.

Berghuis for Klaassen only change from Saturday .A draw would be great,Liverpool have injuries but they are a hugh step up to any other side we play.

Wow, what a half. Liverpool have been the better team but Pasveer has been alert. Great goal by Kudus. Ajax have to be better with the ball and not give it away cheaply

Liverpool the better side and for their goal Blind should have been back marking Salah.Kudus goal a blinder and Pasveer having a good game.

A great defensive performance but for their goal the defender was way behind the goal line .Had he been on the line it would not have been a goal.Pasveer had a great game and for a team who dont play defensively ,we are nearly always in the other half we did fight hard and defend.

Liverpool were just a step or two better than Ajax on the night. Pasveer had an outstanding game in goal and was able to keep the score from getting out of hand. Ajax had trouble with balls in the air and that was their undoing as Matip got a late goal off a free kick. The pressure from Liverpool was relentless and something that Ajax don't see in the league nor from other teams in the Champions League in recent years. Still they were in one of the cathedrals of football, Anfield, and acquitted themselves well. A draw on the evening would have been flattering. Time to regroup as there are no days off.

Player Ratings:

Pasveer (9) - yes, a lot of the saves are one that a keeper should make but he had a couple good ones and his kicking was outstanding
Rensch (4) - out matched in the time he was on the pitch though he did make a couple of good interventions
Timber (7) - generally cool on the back line but clearly beaten by Matip on the game winning goal
Bassey (6) - hesitant in the first half and better in the second
Blind (7) - yes, he's slow but he maximized his abilities on the night with some good interventions and his passing was good
Alvarez (6.5) - OK match from the holding MF
Taylor (7) - worked hard all night but clearly tired near the end from the constant running
Berghuis (6.5) - didn't see a lot of the ball but was decent
Tadic (7) - put in a strong shift
Kudus (7.5) - fantastic goal and had a couple of other good moves inside the box but his effectiveness waned in the second half, must have been called for hand ball three times
Bergwijn (6.5) - could not get the ball in scoring position
Sanchez (6) - strong coming in for Rensch and helped cut down on problems on that side
Grillitsch (NR) - on for a tired Taylor
Brobbey (NR) - on for Kudus

Bad showing IMO and Ajax were lucky to get away with a narrow loss.

They couldn't stop Liverpool bringing the ball down the flanks. Neither backs are good enough at this level. Blind was miles out of position on the first goal, OK, maybe he knew where he should be, but he was too slow to get there. Rensch did his rabbit-in-the-headlights act, before going off "injured".

Taylor and Berghuis had no impact. Can't really blame the front three because they rarely saw the ball when they weren't double and triple teamed.