UEFA Champions League: Liverpool vs AFC Ajax - Matchday Two 13/09/2022
Liverpool cannot afford to drop points in the Champions League again after being trounced by Napoli on matchday No. 1. The Reds fell 4-1 to the Italians in Naples.
The score could have been much worse for Jurgen Klopp’s team. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker saved a penalty in the first half after some poor defending from the defence. The match could have ended with Liverpool conceding five or six times.
Ajax are up next for Liverpool. The two sides will clash at Anfield with the Reds desperate to slow down the Dutch club’s attack. Ajax defeated Rangers 4-0 on matchday No. 1 of the Champions League. Ajax followed it up with a massive 5-0 win against Heerenveen at the weekend in the Eredivisie. Klopp’s defence has to sort itself out to face the threat posed by Ajax.
Klopp is expected to ring in the changes with Joe Gomez dropping to the bench for Joel Matip. Thiago is likely to return to the midfield and Diogo Jota could start in attack.
Liverpool and Ajax met in the Champions League group stage in 2020-21. The Anfielders won both matches by identical 1-0 scorelines. It should be noted that Liverpool’s defence was ripped apart by Napoli in the first half for three goals, but the introduction of Matip improved things.
Klopp’s injury list remains long with captain Jordan Henderson ruled out. Defender Ibrahima Konate is also ruled out until October. Fabio Carvalho could return from a leg injury. Curtis Jones won’t play due to injury nor will Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Midfielder Naby Keita is also ruled out. He is suffering from a thigh injury and has not featured this season. Calvin Ramsey and Caoimhin Kelleher are also set to miss the match.
Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder has just one player on the injury list ahead of the match this week. Owen Wijndal is a doubt due to a knock.
Forward Steven Bergwijn leads Ajax in goals with seven in all competitions. Bergwijn joined the club from Tottenham Hotspur in the offseason. He will be one of Ajax’s major attacking threats.
PREDICTION: AJAX TO SCORE OVER 1.5 MATCH
