Liverpool 1-0 Ajax: Hometown hero Jones nets Reds’ winner

Liverpool moved through to the last-16 of the Champions League with a game to spare thanks to a 1-0 Anfield victory over Ajax.

Curtis Jones got the only goal of the game midway through the second half, though both teams hit the woodwork in an intriguing encounter.

The three points for the Reds, though, will come as a relief for manager Jurgen Klopp, who will be able to rest players for next week’s concluding fixture against Midtjylland.

Tuesday’s win did not come in a straightforward fashion, despite Jones sending a rasping effort off the post following a Mohamed Salah layoff.

Ajax served warning of their threat thanks to a Noussair Mazraoui long ranger that needed close attention from Caoimhim Kelleher in the home net.

The second half saw the Amsterdam club take greater hold of possession and fashion some promising opportunities.

Davy Klaassen headed a David Neres cross wide, but the attacker passed up an even better opportunity some five minutes later when he hit the outside of the post after an initial effort from Mazraoui was saved.

The price of missing that opportunity quickly became apparent as goalkeeper Andre Onana bizarrely allowed a Neco Williams cross to drift past him. Following round at the back post was Jones, whose first Champions League goal is likely to be one of his simplest.

Once Liverpool were ahead, they began to strut. Onana partially atoned for his error by tipping a Roberto Firmino effort onto the post, then Salah slashed widely off target with an effort that would not have been allowed to stand in any case.

Nevertheless, Ajax were not capable of punishing Klopp’s men in the manner they them selves had been. Klaas-Jan Huntelaar had an opportunity, but his powerful header was turned over by a smart reaction save from Kelleher.

While Liverpool can relax next week, the Amsterdammers have to beat Atalanta.