An evening underneath the Anfield lights awaits as Champions League motion continues with the go to of Ajax, a facet very a lot in contrasting kind to Liverpool.
Liverpool vs. Ajax
Champions League Group Stage (2) | Anfield
September 13, 2022 | 8pm (BST)
After an surprising Premier League postponement over the weekend, Liverpool have had longer than anticipated to arrange for the go to of the reigning Dutch champions, a facet in purple sizzling kind.
They aren’t phrases you need to use for Jurgen Klopp‘s facet at present however there isn’t a time like the current to start out the upturn in kind, in what may very well be the ultimate recreation earlier than the worldwide break.
Listed here are 10 key issues it’s worthwhile to know forward of Tuesday’s kickoff!
1. 2 wins vs. 7 in a row
It’s been a stuttering begin to the season for Liverpool, one which has led to an extended record of ideas and questions attempting to diagnose the difficulty/s after solely two wins from seven throughout all competitions.
It’s a far cry from the in-form Ajax who’re on a run of seven consecutive victories forward of their journey to Anfield, scoring 25 and conceding simply three in that point.
Contrasting kind, to say the least!
In 4 of their seven video games, they’ve scored 4 or extra objectives – Liverpool definitely must be switched on and convey the depth.
2. 9 out, however Carvalho is again
The Reds have been taking one step ahead, two again and one to the facet with accidents up to now this season.
The excellent news is that Thiago, Diogo Jota and Joel Matip are again and have some minutes underneath their belt, a fine addition throughout every division, and Fabio Carvalho is on the market.
The dangerous information is that Andy Robertson has picked up a knee harm and will likely be “out for no less than [until] after the worldwide break.”
Eight different senior gamers stay absent, with Caoimhin Kelleher, Ibrahima Konate, Calvin Ramsay, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Curtis Jones and Kaide Gordon all nonetheless sidelined.
Liverpool squad in coaching on Monday
Goalkeepers: Alisson, Adrian, Pitaluga, Mrozek
Defenders: Van Dijk, Matip, Gomez, Phillips, Alexander-Arnold, Tsmikas, Mabaya, Chambers
Midfielders: Thiago, Fabinho, Milner, Elliott, Carvalho, Arthur, Bajcetic
Forwards: Salah, Firmino, Diaz, Nunez, Jota
3. Ajax’s 24-man squad confirmed
There’s been no harm curse for Ajax and thus supervisor Alfred Schreuder has few considerations throughout his squad for this match, what an exquisite feeling that have to be.
A 24-man travelling squad has been confirmed, with left-back Owen Wijndal the one notable absentee.
You will notice various acquainted faces, although, with ex-Man United man Daley Blind nonetheless going sturdy, as too Dusan Tadic, Steven Bergwijn and ex-Everton duo Maarten Stekelenburg and Davy Klaassen.
Bergwijn is the hazard man for Ajax, having scored seven in seven.
Predicted Ajax XI: Pasveer; Rensch, Timber, Bassey, Blind; Alvarez, Berghuis, Taylor; Tadic, Bergwijn, Kudus
4. How might the Reds lineup?
The supervisor used the time period “reinvent” various instances after the “horror present” at Napoli final day trip and that would definitely play into his decision-making right here.
Klopp isn’t searching for a “new form of soccer” however will need to see sustained effort, stress and depth to make sure his crew is compact relatively than merely performing likes cones in a coaching train.
Thiago will likely be in line to make his first begin because the opening day, Joel Matip might squeeze Joe Gomez out of the facet, and Kostas Tsimikas will definitely change the injured Robertson.
In the meantime, Trent Alexander-Arnold could discover himself fortunate to stay within the XI due to an absence of competitors at right-back.
Attainable Reds XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Fabinho, Elliott, Thiago; Salah, Nunez, Diaz
5. Quite a bit has modified at Ajax…
Liverpool final confronted Ajax within the Champions League group stage in 2020, however within the two years since these conferences a lot has modified for the Dutch facet.
Firstly, Erik ten Hag is now supervisor of Man United and Alfred Schreuder has taken the helm at Ajax – and it’s honest to say he’s made a optimistic begin!
The Dutchman predominantly utilises a 4-3-3 system, with the midfield the realm of the pitch you’d doubtless see tweaks from one opposition to the following.
As for personnel, solely six of the 18 gamers to characteristic in opposition to the Reds final day trip stay with the membership: Dusan Tadic, Daley Blind, Davy Klaassen, Edson Alvarez, Mohammed Kudus and Perr Schuurs.
The Reds, however, have seen solely six gamers who had been named in a matchday squad in opposition to Ajax depart the membership completely within the final two years.
6. The final recreation earlier than worldwide break?
Liverpool’s match in opposition to Wolves on Saturday was postponed after the demise of the Queen and the journey to Chelsea on Sunday can be anticipated to comply with go well with.
The Queen’s funeral is in London on Monday and a limitation on police sources is more likely to consequence within the match at Stamford Bridge to even be postponed.
It will imply this Champions League conflict is the ultimate recreation earlier than the worldwide break, leaving a 17-day hole between the conflict with Ajax and the following fixture at dwelling to Brighton on October 1.
Discuss of reversing the Chelsea fixture and seeing Anfield host the match on Sunday has been speculated but it surely’s not anticipated to be the answer.
As a substitute, we’re to have an especially congested few months to start out 2023!
7. ‘Have to point out response to horror present’
Talking in his pre-match press convention, Klopp detailed what has unfolded within the days because the defeat at Napoli, with nothing held again because the Reds search a response:
“Quite a lot of ideas and conferences with the gamers. I watched the sport again loads of instances and it was an actual horror present, to be sincere.
“We confirmed the boys the state of affairs as properly. They knew, however then seeing it once more makes it actually apparent. That was the worst recreation we’ve performed since I’m right here.
“We’ve had a couple of dangerous video games, everyone knows that, in all probability Aston Villa and a few others the place we had been simply lower than pace, however there have been at all times glimpses of us even in these video games. On this explicit recreation – nothing.
[…]
“Now we have to point out a response, undoubtedly. That doesn’t assure a consequence, Ajax are just about in an reverse state of affairs having gained all their video games.”
8. Do you know?
All of us want some positivity and a few hope, and Liverpool’s latest report in opposition to Dutch sides presents simply that.
After all, it’s not indicative of how Tuesday evening is to unfold, however we’ll take what we are able to get after the beginning of the season we’ve had.
In eight ties in opposition to Dutch golf equipment at Anfield, Liverpool are unbeaten, having gained six and drawn simply two. 5 of these victories have are available in Europe’s premier competitors.
And since we need to maintain these good omens in thoughts, because the final defeat to Ajax in Amsterdam in 1966, the Reds are unbeaten in opposition to Dutch outfits in 15 video games, with 10 wins and 5 attracts.
Liverpool make that 16 unbeaten with 11 wins, please!
9. A Portuguese referee to take cost
Artur Dias (POR) is the referee accountable for Tuesday’s recreation, his first match overseeing Liverpool.
The Portuguese referee spends the vast majority of his time within the Primeira Liga and this will likely be his first recreation within the Champions League group stage having overseen two qualifiers again in August.
In these two European video games he dished out 11 yellow playing cards and one purple card.
Let’s hope it’s one for one with Dias within the center.
10. Spend a night with TIA
Liverpool vs. Ajax kicks off at 8pm BST, and BT Sport 2 is the place to tune in for these of you within the UK, with protection ranging from 7pm.
However when you’re not at Anfield and need to maintain updated with all of the motion, Sam Millne has you lined along with his biased commentary on This Is Anfield’s matchday reside weblog.
Up the Reds!
