Liverpool overcome Ajax 2-1 in important Champions League win
Klopp’s reds had to leave it late against their opponents but will hope the three points kick-starts their season.
Joel Matip headed in an 89th-minute winner as Liverpool beat Ajax Amsterdam 2-1 in their Champions League Group A match at Anfield on Tuesday.
Mohamed Salah fired the home side ahead in the 17th minute after being picked out by Diogo Jota, the Egyptian beating Ajax keeper Remko Pasveer with a trademark finish.
But the lead lasted just 10 minutes before Ajax pulled level with a stunning strike from Mohammed Kudus who worked himself some space in the box before hammering the ball into the top corner.
Liverpool enjoyed the bulk of pressure after the break but Ajax fullback Daley Blind wasted a great chance to put the Dutch side ahead when he was left unmarked at the back post but headed wide.
Substitute Darwin Nunez should have won the game for Liverpool in the 83rd minute after he was slipped in by Salah but the Uruguayan striker scuffed his shot wide from a great position inside the box.
A deflected effort from Salah then struck the post before, from the resulting Kostas Tsimikas corner, Matip rose to head in the winner.
Liverpool had lost their opening game in the group 4-1 at Napoli while Ajax had thrashed Scottish team Rangers 4-0. The next game in Group A will be Rangers v Napoli with the result either keeping the group in the balance or pushing Napoli into a three point lead with four rounds of fixtures to go.
Crucial three points for Liverpool gets their season underway
A disappointing beginning to the league season has seen Liverpool slip five points behind leaders Manchester City. While usually not a huge gap to be worried about the recent league battles between the two English giants have been decided by one or two points making any distance a gulf. In their previous European fixture they also struggled as Napoli picked them apart 4-1 last week.
Jurgen Klopp will hope the victory at Anfield tonight can begin to ease nerves around the club. They were due to play new-look Chelsea this weekend but the Queen’s funeral means it has been postponed. They will have to wait until October for their next game against Brighton to try and craft some momentum.