Liverpool will face Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday evening with a far from fit selection. Trainer Jürgen Klopp has been struggling with injuries since the start of the new season and this is reflected in the mixed results. The English top club was wiped out 4-1 in the billion-dollar visit to Napoli last week and now has to book a result against Ajax at Anfield to maintain a good starting position for wintering in the Champions League.
Liverpool have had a disappointing start to the season with draws against Fulham, Crystal Palace and Everton and a defeat to Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United. Last week, the heavy defeat against Napoli was added. “It was the worst game we played under my leadership and Napoli could have scored even more,” the German manager acknowledged in the run-up to the meeting with Ajax. “You have to understand how that happened. Nine of the eleven players played below their level. And the others played a mediocre game. We all have to realize that it starts with defense and in the end we gain confidence by winning matches. We have to show a reaction against Ajax.”
The Reds however, again had to deal with a setback for the Champions League meeting with Ajax. Andy Robertson has dropped out with an injury and has to miss the first meeting with coach Alfred Schreuder’s team. Klopp can also not rely on Ibrahima Konate, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Curtis Jones, Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson against Ajax.
Kostas Tsimikas, who was once rented out by Olympiakos to Willem II, will most likely take the place on the left of Robertson and will have to deal with Dusan Tadic or Steven Berghuis. In midfield, it is expected that Thiago Alcántara will return to the starting eleven. The midfielder made his comeback against Napoli last week as a substitute after a hamstring injury and must provide the necessary creativity at Liverpool.
Probable Liverpool line-up: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Matip, Tsimikas; Elliot, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.