UEFA Champions League
Result: Liverpool 1-0 Ajax Amsterdam
Date: 01 December 2020
Venue: Anfield
Liverpool booked their spot in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League after edging Ajax Amsterdam 1-0 in the penultimate Group D encounter on Tuesday evening.
The Reds were without shot-stopper Alisson due to injury but Jurgen Klopp opted for Caoimhin Kelleher ahead Adrian in goal, while Sadio Mane, Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip and Curtis Jones were all recalled.
The hosts were unlucky not to go ahead in the sixth minute after Jones received a pass from Mohamed Salah on the edge of the box but his curling shot came off the top post.
Ajax were creating the better chances after that as Noussair Mazraoui came close to breaking the deadlock for the visitors in the 32nd minute with a rocket from just outside the box that was parried away from the top corner by Kelleher.
However, the game was getting quiet in the closing stages of the first stanza, with neither side able to create clear chances and the sides went to the break goalless.
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The early exchanges of the second stanza were producing sparks, with Ajax's Davd Neres going the closest to breaking the deadlock for the Dutch side three minutes before the hour-mark with a strike at the back post that came off the post.
Jones eventually got the breakthrough for Liverpool a minute later as goalkeeper Andre Onana misjudged a cross from Neco Williams, which allowed the young English forward to knock the ball into an empty for his first-ever Champions League goal.
Second-half substitute Roberto Firmino should have killed off the game for Liverpool in the last seven minutes after a through ball from Salah, but his side-footed shot towards the bottom corner was parried away by Onana.
Klaas Jan Huntelaar came close to grabbing a late equaliser in the last two minutes with a header at the near post but Kelleher produced the save to seal victory for the Reds, who also won the group with a match to spare.
