Liverpool are through to the Champions League knockout stages, and if you close your eyes enough so you’re barely squinting, that might be enough.
Every match feels like a discovery of either how far Liverpool have fallen or how much promise they can offer that they are climbing back, like taking your first few steps after being spun round 10 times on the spot.
Tangible evidence of progress should be savoured. After the shambolic defeat in Naples, they got it done before the return fixture.
This is not a vintage Ajax team. They conceded goals to Napoli at a rate of one every 18 minutes, for starters. They lost more star names than they could cope with in the summer and a manager too.
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When the Champions League last-16 draw takes place and who Liverpool and Spurs could face26 October, 2022This was the oldest Champions League XI in the club’s grand history and it contained a clutch of former Premier League who’s not-quite-whos: Steven Bergwijn, Steven Berghuis, Davy Klaassen, Daley Blind.
But they initially troubled Liverpool enough to suggest that they should have been comfortably ahead before their visitors flicked into life and clicked into gear.
Berghuis hit a post from an improbably easy chance. Alisson made two smart saves. Ajax had five shots in the first 30 minutes to Liverpool’s one.
At this point, the same demons were present. Joe Gomez looked jumpy in central defence. Trent Alexander-Arnold was unsure about pushing too far forward or staying back and ended up doing neither.
Mohamed Salah drifted out of the game and Darwin Nunez did a lot of trying and once jumped to the floor as if a wasp had flown up his nose. Liverpool were ruffled by the tempo as at the weekend. Liverpool needed a draw and needed a statement and we weren’t sure if they would achieve either.
Liverpool player ratings
Fabinho: With the spotlight on the Liverpool midfielder amid a sluggish start to the season, the Brazilian hardly helped matters with a poor first half. Liverpool’s defenders were getting dragged out, and really just needed a DM to persistently screen them. This became less of a problem, though, when Liverpool’s forwards got to work. 6/10
Jordan Henderson: Returned to the starting XI and was also guilty of letting Ajax enjoy too much freedom through the middle in the first half. Going forward, though, it was his perfect pass which assisted Salah. 6/10
Darwin Nunez: Really should have doubled Liverpool’s lead just before half-time. Goes down as a missed sitter when hitting the post. But then he did double Liverpool’s head just after half-time, scoring a fine header from a corner. 7/10
Read Michael Hincks’ player ratings in full here
Fabinho also struggled in the sticky moments, another lament that is becoming frequent. At his best, Liverpool’s safety blanket doesn’t so much sprint towards danger as seem to teleport there as if governed by an invisible magnetic force.
Having dealt with the problem, he calmly passes the ball to a teammate and wanders forward in a manner which suggests “Hey, no big deal guys”. Now everything looks a little too much like hard work.
Still, no matter because positivity returns. If there is one salve to soothe all self-doubt, scoring spectacular goals is it. Liverpool supporters will have to wait for a complete performance, but watching their forwards old and young ruthlessly punishing an opposition’s profligacy is some sweet hold music in the meantime.
Salah’s first-time dink – delightful. Nunez’s header – emphatic. Harvey Elliott’s finish – hit with such power and accuracy that your brain took an extra half-second to register that a goal had been scored.
… he came from Benfica to the Big Reds!
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) October 26, 2022#UCL pic.twitter.com/fd3C1DnjO5
Liverpool blew Ajax away with three goals in 10 minutes. They have grown used to seeing their team concede to Group A’s best; it doesn’t mean it gets easier. At least Rangers, their little bird down the mine, will likely allow them safe passage to the Europa League.
Does this mean anything? On an individual level, Elliott is becoming legitimately worthy of England conversation (at just 19) were the World Cup not next month. Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold started together for the first time since early September.
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Man Utd could draw Barcelona or Juventus in February after their Champions League failures26 October, 2022Fabinho and Henderson were in the same starting midfield for the third time since August. If this season is to be saved, Salah and Nunez must blossom in tandem; they both scored in the same game for the third time.
In a wider context? Maybe not. This was a hurdle encountered and surmounted, rather than a demon slayed. Liverpool beat Manchester City a week before losing to Nottingham Forest so we should beware buying stakes in their full restoration.
Yet there’s also no point inspecting the horse’s teeth too closely. Liverpool can only recover this wayward season through incremental improvement that breeds confidence because it is the confidence that allows the individuals to express themselves.
If that means riding out some sloppiness before releasing the pressure, it’s far more preferable to most of their recent trips outside Merseyside.
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