Matip Scores Last-Minute Winner and First Champions League Goal for Reds to Rescue Klopp’s Men
- 2 years ago
JURGEN KLOPP needed a reaction after the worst night of his career at Liverpool.
He wasn't spectacular or particularly convincing, but Liverpool's beleaguered manager saw his team dig deep and pull off a big win.
Six days after a night of humiliation and a 4-1 thrashing at Napoli, a very frustrating night was sealed with a Joel Matip winner.
It looked like Klopp's side could have played all night without scoring a second goal, but in the 89th minute Matip seemed to nod his head.
Ajax thought they had it cleared up from the start, but goal-line technology confirmed it was over.
And maybe this is the takeoff for Liverpool, but there is still a lot to improve.
Liverpool were frustrated in the final third with Ajax defending very well.
But Klopp understandably seemed relieved at the end.
Still, at least Mo Salah scored, though even his early goal wasn't enough to make him look back at his prime.
Salah has struggled since a crushing defeat against Senegal in a World Cup play-off in late March.
Joel Matip was Liverpool's hero, as his convincing late header gave the Reds a much-needed 2-1 victory over Ajax at Anfield on Tuesday.
The defender secured three priceless Champions League points with his heroics in the 89th minute, a huge relief for manager Jurgen Klopp after last week's 4-1 humiliation against Napoli.
Mohamed Salah ended a seven-game goal drought in the competition to push Liverpool in front, but Ajax were level before the half hour mark when Mohammed Kudus capped a 26-pass possession spell.
Ajax got close to Daley Blind at the end, but Matip was more precise when his header crossed the line despite Dusan Tadic's desperate attempts to avoid it.
The hosts went ahead in the 18th minute when Alisson's shot found Luis Diaz, who found Diogo Jota. From a central position, Jota fed the eager Salah, who whipped Remko Pasveer into the bottom right corner.
Diaz and Jota came close as Liverpool threatened to add to their opener, but the Reds were pinned down by a quick Ajax break down the left, culminating in Kudus' sublime strike into the top left corner.
Pasveer saved Virgil van Dijk's header well and then blocked Trent Alexander-Arnold twice in a row before the break.
Both Van Dijk and Matip then headed over the crossbar from set pieces as Liverpool kept up the pressure after the break, but Blind nearly stunned Anfield with a cross from the right by Tadic when he headed in a foot from the right post. .
Liverpool substitute Darwin Nunez fired wide seven minutes from time, but Matip came through well as time was running out, rising to find Tsimikas's corner and send the ball into goal.
As Tadic nodded, the former Southampton player was a foot behind the line as he did so, and the relief inside Anfield was obvious when the goal was awarded.
He wasn't spectacular or particularly convincing, but Liverpool's beleaguered manager saw his team dig deep and pull off a big win.
Six days after a night of humiliation and a 4-1 thrashing at Napoli, a very frustrating night was sealed with a Joel Matip winner.
It looked like Klopp's side could have played all night without scoring a second goal, but in the 89th minute Matip seemed to nod his head.
Ajax thought they had it cleared up from the start, but goal-line technology confirmed it was over.
And maybe this is the takeoff for Liverpool, but there is still a lot to improve.
Liverpool were frustrated in the final third with Ajax defending very well.
But Klopp understandably seemed relieved at the end.
Still, at least Mo Salah scored, though even his early goal wasn't enough to make him look back at his prime.
Salah has struggled since a crushing defeat against Senegal in a World Cup play-off in late March.
Joel Matip was Liverpool's hero, as his convincing late header gave the Reds a much-needed 2-1 victory over Ajax at Anfield on Tuesday.
The defender secured three priceless Champions League points with his heroics in the 89th minute, a huge relief for manager Jurgen Klopp after last week's 4-1 humiliation against Napoli.
Mohamed Salah ended a seven-game goal drought in the competition to push Liverpool in front, but Ajax were level before the half hour mark when Mohammed Kudus capped a 26-pass possession spell.
Ajax got close to Daley Blind at the end, but Matip was more precise when his header crossed the line despite Dusan Tadic's desperate attempts to avoid it.
The hosts went ahead in the 18th minute when Alisson's shot found Luis Diaz, who found Diogo Jota. From a central position, Jota fed the eager Salah, who whipped Remko Pasveer into the bottom right corner.
Diaz and Jota came close as Liverpool threatened to add to their opener, but the Reds were pinned down by a quick Ajax break down the left, culminating in Kudus' sublime strike into the top left corner.
Pasveer saved Virgil van Dijk's header well and then blocked Trent Alexander-Arnold twice in a row before the break.
Both Van Dijk and Matip then headed over the crossbar from set pieces as Liverpool kept up the pressure after the break, but Blind nearly stunned Anfield with a cross from the right by Tadic when he headed in a foot from the right post. .
Liverpool substitute Darwin Nunez fired wide seven minutes from time, but Matip came through well as time was running out, rising to find Tsimikas's corner and send the ball into goal.
As Tadic nodded, the former Southampton player was a foot behind the line as he did so, and the relief inside Anfield was obvious when the goal was awarded.