Matip’s late winner helps Liverpool bounce back v Ajax

Joel Matip (centre) is ecstatic after scoring a winner. Pic/Getty Images

Joel Matip's 89th minute header kickstarted Liverpool's season as a 2-1 win over Ajax at Anfield put the Reds back in the running to reach the Last 16 of the Champions League.

Jurgen Klopp's men had won just two of their opening seven games of the season, and suffered a 1-4 thrashing at the hands of Napoli on matchday one.

Also Read: Champions League: Liverpool advance despite 0-1 loss to Inter at Anfield

Last season's Champions League finalists were much more like their old selves, but still needed a late winner from an unlikely source after Mohammed Kudus had cancelled out Mohamed Salah's opener. Victory takes Liverpool level on three points with Ajax and Napoli. "If you put the two games next to each other, I don't think you recognise the same squad," Klopp said of his side's improvement from six days ago in southern Italy.

The match was preceded with a minute's silence to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Liverpool fans had booed the national anthem before winning both domestic cup finals last season, but any fears of a mass political protest were dispelled with only a small band of individuals interrupting the moment of reflection.

10
Total number of goals scored by Joel Matip for Liverpool in all competitions

Also Read: Liverpool boss Klopp wary as Inter Milan head to Anfield

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