As Liverpool waited for word that Joel Matip’s 89th-minute header had passed the Ajax goal line, Jürgen Klopp could not stand to look, clutching his hands as in prayer and facing the Main Stand.
After that, Pool’s Champions League campaign was steered completely differently by referee Artur Soares Dias, who also pointed to his watch and the centre circle.
Before Matip connected on a Kostas Tsimikas corner and goalline technology made Dusan Tadic’s clearance unnecessary, Liverpool faced another night of Champions League agony. With Thiago Alcântara returning to the lineup, Mohamed Salah regaining his scoring touch, and Tsimikas embodying the grit that the situation demanded, Liverpool had responded to Klopp’s appeal to respond to last week’s appalling setback in Naples with a dedicated and unified effort.
Liverpool Finally Won In The Champion’s League, Breaking Their Inconsistency:
Before Kostas Tsimikas’ corners were connected to by Matip and goalline technology dispensing with Dusan Tadic’s clearance, Liverpool endured another night of Champions League anguish. With Thiago Alcântara rejoining the lineup, Mohamed Salah finding the back of the net once more, and Tsimikas embodying the tenacity that the occasion required, the reds had heeded Klopp’s call to action to bounce back from last week’s shocking defeat in Naples with a focused and cohesive effort.
It was past midnight, unkempt, and Liverpool still had a lot to work on. They were reckless with the final ball, wasteful in front of goal, and easily defeated by Mohammed Kudus’ magnificent tally of the Ajax equaliser. But in the end, Klopp’s team earned a priceless victory that will lift spirits throughout the drawn-out international break and serve as just compensation for their combined efforts.
After hitting his players with the “absolute truth” for several days, Klopp made four changes to the Liverpool team that put on what he called the worst performance of his reign at Napoli. Darwin Nez, a summer addition, was passed over in favour of Diogo Jota as Klopp sought a more compact, counter-pressing team to restart Liverpool’s European campaign.
