Liverpool progressed to the Champions League last-16 following a 1-0 win over Ajax at Anfield.
Curtis Jones put Liverpool in front just before the hour mark with an instinctive finish and despite late pressure from Ajax, they held on for the three points.
It means that Jurgen Klopp – a strong critic of this season’s fixture list – will be able to rotate his squad for the final group game against FC Midtjylland next Wednesday.
Here are the five key players from Liverpool’s slender win over the Dutch champions…
Curtis Jones – 8/10
A positive of Liverpool’s injury crisis is that it has created opportunities for young players that otherwise would not have been there. A couple of them combined for the all-important first goal, Jones finishing smartly from a tricky angle after Neco Williams’ floated cross had sailed over Andre Onana’s head.
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— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 1, 2020
@curtisjr_10
From the Academy to the @ChampionsLeague ???? pic.twitter.com/mE0pSOWyLs
By finding the net, Jones followed Trent Alexander-Arnold and David Ngog (remember him?) in becoming a teenage goalscorer for Liverpool in the Champions League. Ngog memorably scored a game-clinching goal against Manchester United at Anfield, but Jones will hope his Liverpool career follows a similar trajectory to that of Alexander-Arnold instead.
Wearing Steven Gerrard’s old No 17 shirt, Jones demonstrated the box-to-box capabilities that Liverpool’s iconic former captain made his trademark, firing a shot against an Ajax defender and then rattling a post with another effort inside the opening six minutes, before scoring at the third time of asking.
Like Gerrard, this kid seems to have a penchant for important goals.
Caoimhin Kelleher – 8/10
Klopp dropped a bombshell before kick-off by handing 22-year-old Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher his Champions League debut, later revealing that first-choice Alisson has suffered a hamstring strain. Adrian, Alisson’s understudy since the start of last season, was named on the bench.
Explaining his decision to select Kelleher, Klopp told BT Sport: “He is just improving, improving and improving. He’s a football-playing goalie, a good shot-stopper which is obviously the most important thing. It is my job is to make decisions.”
Kelleher justified his manager’s comments in the first half, making a sprawling save to deny a venomous Noussair Mazraoui effort from distance and completing just one pass fewer than the front three combined in the first half. He made another crucial stop to deny Mazraoui shortly before Liverpool went in front too, with David Neres lashing the rebound off a post.
The crowning moment of his night, however, came in the 88th minute, when he made a point-blank reaction stop to deny serial goal-getter Klaas-Jan Huntelaar. Klopp made a beeline for the youngster as soon as the final whistle was sounded to give him a bear hug to cap a dream European debut.
Fabinho – 7/10
What is it with Brazilian defensive midfielders that makes it so easy for them to slot into defence as if they’ve played there forever? Fernandinho traded being Manchester City’s best ball-winner in midfield to their best ball-player in defence last season and it looks as though Fabinho will follow his compatriot’s lead for Liverpool this term.
The 27-year-old oozed composure and class in equal measure in his makeshift position, completing 51/57 passes, more than any other Liverpool player. While Fabinho’s quality in possession should surprise nobody, his reading of the game and positional sense was akin to that of a seasoned veteran.
Neco Williams – 7/10
There is little that football fans cherish more then seeing a homegrown talent graduate through the academy and make a name for themselves in the first-team. That is unless they make a mistake leading to a goal during a 7-2 win over Lincoln City in the League Cup, of course, that is unforgivable. Obviously.
The abuse that Williams received on social media after making an unimportant error was so vehement that he had to delete his social media channels. He’s only 19-years-old. The keyboard warriors were out in force again on Saturday when he committed the cardinal sin of conceding a penalty against Brighton, before being hooked at half-time.
Given the negativity that has surrounded Williams’ performances (again, he is 19-years-old) it was nice to see him play a key role in Liverpool’s win with a match-winning assist for his mate. It topped an encouraging evening for Alexander-Arnold’s understudy.
Mo Salah – 5/10
Mo Salah has an infuriating habit of getting in the way of a better-placed teammate whenever the ball is vaguely in his vicinity near the goal. Remember when he ruined a chance for Diogo Jota on his league debut against Arsenal by nicking the ball off his toes? Well, he did similar here, haring after a ball that was set to drop perfectly on the volley for Neco Williams, leading the Welshman to rush his effort.
The Egyptian had a legitimate chance to score shortly after when he raced after a loose ball that rolled through the heart of the Ajax defence, only for Onana to deny him from close range. And then late on he spurned a glorious chance to double Liverpool’s lead with a wild effort on the run. Not his night.
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