Liverpool have secured a place in the knockout stage of the Champions League for a fourth successive seasonCurtis Jones scored his first Champions League goal after a horrific goalkeeping mistake as Liverpool beat Ajax to win Group D and secure a place in the last 16.
Andre Onana misjudged the flight of Neco Williams’ cross and 19-year-old midfielder Jones took advantage to score with the outside of his right foot.
Caoimhin Kelleher, deputising for first-choice keeper Alisson who was missing with a hamstring injury, also played his part in Liverpool’s win, a tremendous stop to deny substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar the pick of his saves.
Former Everton midfielder Davy Klaassen wasted a great chance for the visitors and David Neres hit the woodwork.
Jones also rattled a post before his goal ensured Liverpool, with one game to spare, joined Premier League rivals Manchester City and Chelsea in the knockout stage.
‘One of the biggest European nights in my time here’ – Klopp praise for injury-hit sideFootball Daily podcast: Liverpool qualify – but are Real beyond rescue?Kelleher impresses in Alisson’s absenceA surprise home defeat by Atalanta last week had threatened Liverpool’s dominance in Group D, with the Italians and Ajax closing in.
But Jurgen Klopp’s side overcame their latest worrying injury setback to progress after an open and entertaining game at Anfield.
It was far from straightforward for the Reds, Klaassen heading wide for Ajax when he should have scored, while Neres was denied by the woodwork after Kelleher had done well to push away an attempt by young Brazilian forward Antony.
The 22-year-old’s stop to deny Huntelaar, having earlier produced a one-handed save to keep out Noussair Mazraoui, was exceptional and at the final whistle Klopp went straight to the Republic of Ireland squad member to congratulate him on his performance.
With Atalanta held in Denmark by Midtjylland, Liverpool are four points clear with one game to go and uncatchable at the top.
Having already secured the group, Klopp will be able to rest players when the Reds face Midtjylland in Denmark in the final round of games on 9 December.
More injury woe for the RedsOn a night when captain Jordan Henderson made his first club start since 8 November after injury, Liverpool revealed their first-choice keeper had become the latest player to join the list of casualties.
Their campaign has been littered with injury setbacks and Alisson’s hamstring problem, which is likely to rule him out of Sunday’s league game with Wolves and next week’s European game, means the Reds are now without nine senior players with matches coming thick and fast.
Caoimhin Kelleher is the 11th goalkeeper to appear for Liverpool in the Champions League but only the second to keep a clean sheet on his debut for the Reds in the competition after Chris Kirkland in 2002Midfielder Naby Keita (thigh) and right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold (calf) are close to returning.
But Virgil van Dijk (knee) is out for a prolonged period while there are no return dates for Joe Gomez (knee), Xherdan Shaqiri, James Milner (thigh), Thiago Alcantara (knee) and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee).
Klopp’s decision to opt for Kelleher in Alisson’s absence raises questions about the future of Spanish keeper Adrian, who has often filled in when the Brazilian has been missing.
The veteran of more than 200 competitive appearances for Real Betis, West Ham and Liverpool watched from the bench as Kelleher provided a calming presence in Alisson’s absence.
Teenage talents – the best of the statsLiverpool’s goal was the first time in Champions League history one teenager, Neco Williams (19 years and 232 days), assisted another, Curtis Jones (19 years and 306 days), for a Premier League side.Curtis Jones (19 years and 306 days) is the third teenager to score for Liverpool in the Champions League after David N’Gog in 2008 (19 years and 252 days v PSV Eindhoven) and Trent Alexander-Arnold in 2017 (19 years and 10 days v Maribor).Caoimhin Kelleher is the first Republic of Ireland player to appear in the Champions League for Liverpool since Robbie Keane in December 2008 and just the fourth for the Reds overall in the competition (Steve Finnan and Darren Potter the others).Liverpool have registered four clean sheets in their past five Champions League games (2 goals conceded in total) after managing just one in eight before that (12 goals conceded).Ajax have kept just one clean sheet in their past nine Champions League games after registering three shut-outs in four games before that.What’s next?Liverpool host Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday (19:15 GMT) before heading to Denmark for their final Group D game against FC Midtjylland on 9 December (17:55).
Player of the match
KelleherCaoimhin Kelleher
with an average of 7.62
LiverpoolSquad number62Player nameKelleher
Squad number17Player nameJones
Squad number26Player nameRobertson
Squad number3Player nameFabinho
Squad number76Player nameN Williams
Squad number14Player nameHenderson
Squad number20Player nameDiogo Jota
Squad number32Player nameMatip
Squad number9Player nameRoberto Firmino
Squad number5Player nameWijnaldum
Squad number46Player nameR Williams
Squad number10Player nameMané
Squad number11Player nameMohamed Salah
AjaxSquad number10Player nameTadic
Squad number7Player nameDavid Neres
Squad number6Player nameKlaassen
Squad number39Player nameAntony
Squad number8Player nameGravenberch
Squad number3Player nameSchuurs
Squad number31Player nameTagliafico
Squad number17Player nameBlind
Squad number4Player nameÁlvarez
Squad number12Player nameMazraoui
Squad number19Player nameLabyad
Squad number23Player nameTraoré
Squad number9Player nameHuntelaar
Squad number24Player nameOnana
Squad number21Player nameMartínez
More to follow.
Line-upsLiverpool62Kelleher76N Williams32Matip3Fabinho26Robertson17Jones14HendersonBooked at 90mins5WijnaldumBooked at 70mins11SalahSubstituted forR Williamsat 90’minutes20JotaSubstituted forFirminoat 68’minutes10ManéBooked at 90minsSubstitutes9Firmino13Adrián18Minamino21Tsimikas27Origi46R Williams56Jaros64Cain65ClarksonAjax24Onana12MazraouiSubstituted forHuntelaarat 86’minutes3SchuursBooked at 42mins17BlindBooked at 55minsSubstituted forMartínezat 86’minutes31Tagliafico6Klaassen4ÁlvarezSubstituted forLabyadat 69’minutes8Gravenberch39dos Santos10Tadic7Neres CamposSubstituted forTraoréat 81’minutesSubstitutes1Stekelenburg2Timber5Klaiber9Huntelaar11Promes16Scherpen18Ekkelenkamp19Labyad21Martínez23TraoréLive TextMatch ends, Liverpool 1, Ajax 0.
Second Half ends, Liverpool 1, Ajax 0.
Sadio Mané (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card.
Nicolás Tagliafico (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Sadio Mané (Liverpool).
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jordan Henderson (Liverpool).
Substitution, Liverpool. Rhys Williams replaces Mohamed Salah.
Offside, Ajax. Zakaria Labyad tries a through ball, but Lassina Traoré is caught offside.
Corner, Ajax. Conceded by Caoimhin Kelleher.
Attempt saved. Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Ajax) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Antony with a cross.
Substitution, Ajax. Lisandro Martínez replaces Daley Blind.
Substitution, Ajax. Klaas Jan Huntelaar replaces Noussair Mazraoui.
Attempt missed. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Roberto Firmino.
Attempt missed. Sadio Mané (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jordan Henderson with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by André Onana.
Attempt saved. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mohamed Salah.
Foul by Noussair Mazraoui (Ajax).
Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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