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Liverpool vs Ajax result: Player ratings as Curtis Jones sends Reds through to Champions League last 16

Curtis Jones (right) celebrates with Neco Williams after putting Liverpool in front of Ajax (Reuters)
Curtis Jones (right) celebrates with Neco Williams after putting Liverpool in front of Ajax (Reuters)

Liverpool beat Ajax 1-0 to confirm their place in the Champions League last 16.

Curtis Jones struck the woodwork in the opening 10 minutes with a fine strike from the edge of the box, but despite a succession of sights of goal for both teams the match remained goalless at the break.

The match remained extremely open after the break, with Davy Klaassen missing the target with a header and David Neres hitting the post, but it was Jones who opened the scoring with a fine finish from a narrow angle.

Roberto Firmino had a late shot tipped onto the post by Andre Onana late on, before Caoimhin Kelleher made an even later stop to deny Klass-Jan Huntelaar an equaliser.

Here are the player ratings from the clash at Anfield.

Liverpool

Caoimhin Kelleher - 7. A comfortable early save or two settled any nerves and he put in a largely steady showing on his European debut - then made a great late save to top it off.

Neco Williams - 6. Delivered the cross for the goal, though at the other end was beaten several times.

Joel Matip - 7. Routine work for the most part although did lose Klaassen several times on crosses.

Fabinho - 9. Several important blocks and interceptions from the stand-in centre-back.

Andy Robertson - 6. Fairly quiet considering his usual importance. Did take an early knock to the ankle.

Jordan Henderson - 7. A good showing on the ball and hard-working defensively.

Curtis Jones - 8. Hit the post and had another early shot saved. Often the link man between midfield and attack. Deserved first European strike for the midfielder.

Gini Wijnaldum - 7. Standard performance from the No. 5: reliable, won back the ball, protected the back line and covered every inch of grass.

Mohamed Salah - 7. Made lots of brilliant runs which weren’t spotted. Wasted one or two openings when he might have taken on the shot earlier.

Diogo Jota - 5. Saw plenty of the ball but his final pass and timing of the ball was hopelessly lacking.

Sadio Mane - 7. Liverpool’s biggest threat running behind the defence but again failed to unduly trouble the goalkeeper.

Ajax

Andre Onana - 7. Made a good save or two but made the crucial error when he misjudged a cross, leading to Jones’ goal. Brilliant late save to deny sub Firmino.

Noussair Mazraoui - 7. Did well against Mane in the channel. Had a great early effort saved.

Perr Schuurs - 7. Covering defensive runs were good and a couple of tackles were key, though he was beaten one-on-one more than once twice.

Daley Blind - 6. Struggled with the movement of the Liverpool front men. Booked too.

Nicolas Tagliafico - 6. Didn’t get forward on the overlap as much as he would usually like to and couldn’t track Salah all the time.

Davy Klaassen - 7. Made so many great runs forward but missed the target two or three times when he should have troubled the keeper.

Edson Alvarez - 5. Sat back early on before pushing on into midfield more but had little impact on the ball and couldn’t stop the home team’s counters.

Ryan Gravenberch - 7. Clever movement, always looked forwards for his first pass.

David Neres - 7. Some excellent crosses for his team-mates to attack. Taken off injured in the second half.

Antony - 7. Started well and had a couple of good dribbles infield for shots, but couldn’t trouble Kelleher.

Dusan Tadic - 7. Caused lots of problems with his movement into deep areas and clever crosses.

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