Ian Doyle discusses Liverpool’s 3-0 victory over Ajax to advance to the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Henderson helps diamond shine
It seemed Jurgen Klopp’s answer to who could best fill the problematic left midfield role was to dispense with the position altogether.
Another day saw another formation for Liverpool, the 4-2-3-1 of recent weeks ditched with a lesser-spotted midfield diamond instead put in place.
At least that appeared to be the idea. Was it actually 4-4-2? Was it drifting into 4-3-3 at times? If those sitting in the stands and at home were having a hard time fathoming it out, the players on the pitch were no different given their wayward showing in the opening half-hour.
The engine room in particular suffered in those early stages, the quartet never quite convincing they knew exactly where they needed to be meaning Ajax was able to play through far too easily, not least when Steven Berghuis struck the post in the opening moments.
Yet it was from the much-debated left flank that this game’s pivotal moment originated, Jordan Henderson’s sumptuous ball with the outside of his right foot finding Salah to score.
It was a fitting way for Henderson to mark his 250th game as captain and served as a reminder of what he can offer in a creative sense, his first assist for a team-mate to score since February.
With the skipper driving Liverpool on, the diamond managed to shine in the second half. Henderson’s night ended with a bang on the knee, but Paul Scholes is right – he needs to start whenever possible in this form.
Salah still supreme
Jurgen Klopp spoke only weeks ago about trying to fashion a formation that could bring both Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah into central positions and, perhaps more pertinently, ensure the latter had a greater goalscoring threat.
“We are still developing this kind of system and we have to figure out how it is best for the specific game,” said the Liverpool boss.
This, then, was the evening for the Reds to try something new. And, as has so often been the case over the last six seasons, Salah ensured Klopp’s faith – both in the change of approach and the player’s adaptability – was justified.
Indeed, the Egyptian’s high standards mean it’s easy to overlook the quality of his audacious finish when sweeping home a first-time finish to swing the game inexorably in Liverpool’s favor.
For a player supposedly having an underwhelming season, Salah has now scored 10 times – joining Erling Haaland and Harry Kane as the only Premier League players to have reached double figures in all competitions – while his sumptuous pass for the impressive Harvey Elliott to score in a second successive Champions League game was his fifth assist. That’s 17 games and 15 goal contributions.
Salah’s goal also leaves him just one behind Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool record of 41 goals in European competitions. History keeps beckoning for the Egyptian King.
Alisson gets a hug
This was a landmark evening for Alisson Becker, making his 200th appearance between the sticks for Liverpool.
And while the Brazilian wasn’t overly extended as Liverpool cruised through the second half, he was afforded a group hug with center-backs Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez after the Reds secured a third clean sheet in four games.
Indeed, the victory meant more than qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League with a game to spare.
After the demoralizing defeat at Nottingham Forest the previous weekend, this was the ideal response. In the grand scheme of things, it’s now six wins in nine, which is a clear sign of progress.
And, with Liverpool needing an unlikely four-goal win to beat Napoli to top the group, the Italians’ visit next Tuesday could provide Klopp with an opportunity to rest some players while giving others much-needed minutes. This was a pleasant evening in Amsterdam.
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