Ajax vs Liverpool

Johan Cruijff Arena forms the backdrop for Ajax’s last-gasp effort to pull off a miracle and pip Liverpool to a runner-up finish in Champions League Group A.

Since a 5-0 demolition of Group A minnows Rangers at this venue on day one, Ajax have lost three consecutive Champions League matches via an aggregate score of 12-3, including a crushing 6-1 defeat to Napoli in their most recent European home outing. Although the ‘Lancers’ have strung together back-to-back Eredivisie victories by 4+ goals ‘to one’ since a 4-2 loss at Napoli in the previous Champions League round, they may need to settle for a third-placed finish. With six points separating them from current runners-up Liverpool, Alfred Schreuder’s men need a miracle, though a draw would switch them over to Europa League playoffs with a game to spare. That won’t be easy to achieve, considering they’ve won just one of their last eight European home clashes against English visitors (D1, L6).

In the meantime, Liverpool humbled Rangers 7-1 at Ibrox last time out to make a decisive step towards reaching the Champions League knockouts following a 2-1 beating of Ajax in the reverse fixture. However, these are uncertain times for long-serving manager Jurgen Klopp after his team fell to a shock 1-0 defeat at Premier League newcomers Nottingham Forest at the weekend, losing further ground on the top four. A draw in Amsterdam would maintain Klopp’s 100% progression ratio across his six seasons in charge of Liverpool. It could potentially calm the tensions at Anfield, and with the ‘Reds’ going unbeaten on their last seven European trips to meet Dutch clubs (W4, D3), you’d be forgiven for expecting them to do so. It’s also worth noting they racked up five clean sheets across those seven visits to the Netherlands.