Jurgen Klopp said he was pleased with how his Liverpool team responded to their latest "setback" after Joel Matip's late goal earned the Reds a crucial 2-1 victory over Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Liverpool, aiming to bounce back from what Klopp described as a "horror show" defeat at Napoli in their first Group A match, took a deserved lead through Mohamed Salah in the 17th minute. But their advantage lasted just 10 minutes when Mohammed Kudus scored a stunner to level.
Ajax had the chance to steal the victory but Daley Blind missed a great chance late in the game, before Matip headed home the winner in the 89th minute.
It was a much-needed win for Liverpool amid an inconsistent start to the season, which began with Premier League draws against Fulham and Crystal Palace, and defeat at rivals Manchester United before a record-equalling 9-0 rout of Bournemouth and a narrow victory over Newcastle United.
Those back-to-back wins failed to ignite the Reds, though, and they played out a goalless draw at Everton in the Merseyside derby followed by the 4-1 loss in Naples.
"I think everybody could see that we understood and that we had to put a completely different shift into the game," Klopp told BT Sport. "The boys did that. We played a lot of good stuff against a hard fighting opposition. Scored the first goal and should’ve scored more goals, from set pieces especially.
"I'm not sure it was their first attack, but Ajax didn’t have a lot. That’s how it is in our situation, anything can happen, but it was an incredible strike from Kudus.
"It’s like another test. Everybody is hoping you go in the right direction and then you get another setback. You could see the impact of that. The pressing before the goal was much better than after the goal. Only a yard or two but if we press, we have to do it right."
The win moves Liverpool second in Group A, level on points with first-placed Napoli and Ajax in third, although Napoli's match against Rangers was postponed.
With the Premier League trip to Chelsea on Sunday postponed due to a lack of police resources in the wake of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Liverpool are not back in action until October 1 with a home match against Brighton & Hove Albion.
"Nothing is over. It is a first step, a very important step," Klopp said. "Now we have a strange break, pretty long. Brighton is waiting."
Liverpool v Ajax player ratings
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LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6. The Brazilian did not have much to do but his pass to Diaz started the move that led to the opening goal. He had no chance with Ajax’s equaliser. PA -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 5. The 23-year-old was caught ball-watching for Ajax’s goal. His distribution was good but he left too much space behind him. Reuters -
Joel Matip - 7. The 31-year-old scored the winning goal and was a threat when stepping out from the back. He was solid defensively. EPA -
Virgil van Dijk - 6. The Dutchman might have been closer to Kudus when the striker scored but he was generally secure. He presented a threat in the opposition box. Reuters -
Kostas Tsimikas - 6. The Greek’s corner created the winning goal but he laboured a little going forward. He kept a tight rein on Tadic. Getty -
Harvey Elliott - 5. The 19-year-old worked hard but found it difficult to make an impact on proceedings. He was replaced by Firmino in the 66th minute. AP -
Fabinho - 5. The Brazilian was frequently over-run in the midfield and struggled to impose himself on the game. His passing could have been better. AP -
Thiago Alcantara - 7. The midfield was more coherent for the 31-year-old’s presence. His distribution was effective and the team was more solid when he dropped deep to support Fabinho. AFP -
Mohamed Salah - 7. The Egyptian took his goal with aplomb and was a constant source of danger. His movement was better than in recent matches. EPA -
Diogo Jota - 7. The Portuguese set up Salah’s goal and was relentless in putting pressure on the defence. He was showing signs of tiredness when taken off for Nunez in the 66th minute. AP -
Luis Diaz - 6. The Colombian pressured defenders and was eager to get on the ball but his end product was disappointing. He made way for Milner in stoppage time. Getty -
Roberto Firmino (Elliot 66') - 5. The Brazilian linked play well without creating much. He was industrious but not incisive. AP -
Darwin Nunez (Jota 66') - 6. The Uruguayan struggled to control the ball. He pulled a shot wide and was unlucky to see his cross tipped away by Pasveer before Diaz could get on the end of it. AFP -
James Milner (Diaz 90'+2) - N/R. The 36-year-old entered the game in stoppage time and helped see the game out. AP -
Stefan Bajcetic (Thiago 90'+4) - N/R. The 17-year-old was given his Champions League debut in stoppage time and seemed to enjoy the brief experience. AFP -
AJAX RATINGS: Remko Pasveer - 5. The 38-year-old had no chance with either goal but he tipped Nunez’s cross away from the danger zone. His distribution was poor, though. Getty -
Devyne Rensch - 6. The 19-year-old ensured Diaz was kept under wraps and can be happy with his night’s work. He was tiring when replaced by Sanchez with 22 minutes to go. Getty -
Jurrien Timber - 4. The 21-year-old was in the vicinity of Matip for Liverpool’s winner but was bullied out of the way. His defending was slapdash and his passing was weak. Getty -
Calvin Bassey - 5. The 22-year-old was outjumped by Matip before the winning goal. Until then he had played well, making a series of tackles and interceptions. Getty -
Daley Blind - 4. The 32-year-old could not cope with Salah’s speed. He missed a fine headed chance to give his side the lead in the second half. AP -
Edson Alvarez - 4. The Mexican was deployed to help out the defence but could not contain Jota. He was often caught in no-man’s land. EPA -
Kenneth Taylor - 4. The 20-year-old was busy but ineffective. He pressed hard but was unable to create much when on the ball. He made way for Grillitsch with 10 minutes to go. AP -
Dusan Tadic - 3. The Serb’s biggest contribution was a splendid cross that Blind wasted. Otherwise it was a deeply disappointing night. AP -
Steven Berghuis - 6. The 30-year-old was bright and his running from deep caused consternation for the defence. His cross set up the equalising goal. PA -
Steven Bergwijn - 4. The 24-year-old laboured and found it hard to get possession. He was wise enough to get out of the way and let Kudus shoot for Ajax’s goal. AP -
Mohammed Kudus - 6. The Ghanaian scored a scorcher of a goal. He found the going tough against Van Dijk and often lacked support. Brobbey came on for him with four minutes to go. AP -
Jorge Sanchez (Rensch 68') - 6. The Mexican came on to reinforce the back line and was effective in his work. AP -
Florian Grillitsch (Taylor 80') - N/R. The Austrian never quite got to the pace of the game. EPA -
Brian Brobbey (Kudus 86') - N/R. There was nothing he could do to affect the game. Reuters
