Liverpool v Ajax player ratings: Salah 7, Van Dijk 6; Kudus 6, Bergwijn 4

Matip scores late to earn Reds 2-1 win at Anfield to get their Champions League campaign up and running

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

Joel Matip headed in an 89th-minute winner as Liverpool beat Ajax 2-1 in their Champions League Group A match at Anfield on Tuesday.

Mohamed Salah fired the home side ahead in the 17th minute after being picked out by Diogo Jota, the Egyptian beating Ajax keeper Remko Pasveer with a trademark finish.

But the lead lasted just 10 minutes before Ajax pulled level with a stunning strike from Mohammed Kudus who worked himself some space in the box before hammering the ball into the top corner.

Liverpool enjoyed the bulk of pressure after the break but Ajax fullback Daley Blind wasted a great chance to put the Dutch side ahead when he was left unmarked at the back post but headed wide.

Substitute Darwin Nunez should have won the game for Liverpool in the 83rd minute after he was slipped in by Salah but the Uruguayan striker scuffed his shot wide from a great position inside the box.

A deflected effort from Salah then struck the post before, from the resulting Kostas Tsimikas corner, Matip rose to head in the winner.

Liverpool had lost their opening game in the group 4-1 at Napoli and sit second in the group, level on points with Ajax and Napoli, whose match against Rangers was postponed.

Assessing the performances at Anfield, Tony Evans provides his player ratings in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.