Rhys Williams - 4: Given four minutes of stoppage time as Milner’s legs faded. Good experience for the 19-year-old who was on loan at Kidderminster Harriers last season. Getty
AJAX RATINGS: Andre Onana - 5: Had two lucky escapes in the second half, once when he failed to claim a corner against Fabinho and again when charging upfield to contest a ball with Jota. No chance with the goal. AP
Noussair Mazraoui - 4: Not the best night for the right back. Robertson and Mane had plenty of success down his wing. Wasteful in possession. PA
Perr Schuurs - 6: Nervous against Mane but made the striker work hard. Confident on the ball when stepping out of defence. Made way for Traore in 84th minute. PA
Lisandro Martinez - 6: Competent in defence and supplied some useful crosses when Ajax were chasing the game in the second half. AFP
Nicolas Tagliafico - 4: Was completely unbalanced when he scored the bizarre own goal that separated the teams. Never exerted his authority on the game. AFP
Davy Klaassen - 7: Composed and influential. Hit the post with a powerful shot. The former Everton man had a good night until he ran out of energy and was substituted after 74 minutes. EPA
Daley Blind - 7: Used all of his experience to help counter Liverpool’s threat. Pushed into midfield and was an influential presence. Sacrificed for Huntelaar with six minutes left. PA
Ryan Gravenberch - 5: Was allowed plenty of space and started well but the 18-year-old’s lack of experience told as the game went on. AFP
David Neres – 6: Faded after a bright start but supplied Promes with Ajax’s best chance of the match. Replaced by Labyad after 74 minutes. PA
Dusan Tadic - 6: Worked the channel between Gomez and Robertson effectively and harried the Liverpool defence. Drifted out of the game in the second period. PA
Mohammed Kudus - 4: Sustained an ankle injury in the early stages during a challenge with Fabinho and was replaced by Promes after nine minutes. A big loss for Ajax. EPA
SUBS: Quincy Promes - 4: Off the bench earlier that expected when Kudus was injured in the ninth minute. Should have opened the scoring moments before Liverpool took the lead. Disappointing effort. Getty
Jurgen Ekkelenkamp – 4: On for Klassen after 74 minutes but had little impact. Lifted an awkward bouncing ball over the bar in the final minute after Adrian’s wayward punch. AP
Zakaria Labyad - 4: Part of a double substitution with 16 minutes left, replacing Neres. A largely anonymous effort as the anticipated Ajax charge failed to materialise. AP
Lassina Traoré - 4: Sent on for Schuurs with six minutes left as Ajax became increasingly desperate. Had one difficult headed chance. AP
Klaas Jan Huntelaar - 4: The 37-year-old produced an unsatisfying six-minute cameo when coming on for Blind. Age has caught up with this once-prolific goalscorer. AP
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Adrian - 5: Early mix up with Gomez set the uncertain tone in the Liverpool penalty area. Then allowed Tadic to charge down a clearance. Nervous performance but great reaction save from Promes. Getty
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 5: Did not produce his usual vibrancy going forward and – understandably - seemed preoccupied with his defensive duties. AFP
Joe Gomez – 5: Seemed to lack a little confidence. Not the worst of his recent performances but needs to improve his strength and anticipation. PA
Fabinho - 8: Tidied up a number of awkward situations in the penalty box. Brilliant clearance off the line capped an assured display. AP
Andrew Robertson - 7: Plenty of powerful forward runs and dangerous with the ball at his feet. A constant worry for the Ajax defence. EPA
James Milner - 5: Worked hard but frequently off the pace of the game. Booked for a cynical foul on Neres to stop a counter attack. Reuters
Georginio Wijnaldum - 5: Occasionally wasteful in possession but plugged the gaps when Ajax had the ball. Was set up with a chance by Jota but lacked composure. PA
Curtis Jones – 5: It was always going to be a big task for the 19-year-old to influence a game of this magnitude. No surprise when he was replaced by Henderson after half time. PA
Mohamed Salah - 5: Had a couple of opportunities but failed to make the most of them. A constant menace to the defence and Ajax were relieved when he was taken off on the hour. PA
Roberto Firmino - 4: Things are not quite working for the Brazilian at the moment. Lots of effort but looks short of sharpness and confidence. PA
Sadio Mane - 6: The liveliest of Liverpool’s attackers. In a splendid run of form and has the knack of making things happen. His miskick led to the freak goal. EPA
SUBS: Jordan Henderson – 6: Replaced Jones for the second half. His industry and experience helped the team see out the victory. EPA
Diogo Jota - 7: On for Firmino in Jurgen Klopp’s strange triple substitution on the hour. Not afraid to run at the defence. Superb ball to Wijnaldum late on to create a chance for the Dutchman. AP
Xherdan Shaqiri - 6: Given half an hour of action when Salah was withdrawn. Buzzed around and slipped a nice pass to Minamino to allow the Japanese to shoot in the box. AP
Takumi Minamino - 6: Took Mane’s place when the entire front unit was replaced after 60 minutes. Showed positive signs and tested Onana with a shot. AP
Rhys Williams - 4: Given four minutes of stoppage time as Milner’s legs faded. Good experience for the 19-year-old who was on loan at Kidderminster Harriers last season. Getty
AJAX RATINGS: Andre Onana - 5: Had two lucky escapes in the second half, once when he failed to claim a corner against Fabinho and again when charging upfield to contest a ball with Jota. No chance with the goal. AP
Noussair Mazraoui - 4: Not the best night for the right back. Robertson and Mane had plenty of success down his wing. Wasteful in possession. PA
Perr Schuurs - 6: Nervous against Mane but made the striker work hard. Confident on the ball when stepping out of defence. Made way for Traore in 84th minute. PA
Lisandro Martinez - 6: Competent in defence and supplied some useful crosses when Ajax were chasing the game in the second half. AFP
Nicolas Tagliafico - 4: Was completely unbalanced when he scored the bizarre own goal that separated the teams. Never exerted his authority on the game. AFP
Davy Klaassen - 7: Composed and influential. Hit the post with a powerful shot. The former Everton man had a good night until he ran out of energy and was substituted after 74 minutes. EPA
Daley Blind - 7: Used all of his experience to help counter Liverpool’s threat. Pushed into midfield and was an influential presence. Sacrificed for Huntelaar with six minutes left. PA
Ryan Gravenberch - 5: Was allowed plenty of space and started well but the 18-year-old’s lack of experience told as the game went on. AFP
David Neres – 6: Faded after a bright start but supplied Promes with Ajax’s best chance of the match. Replaced by Labyad after 74 minutes. PA
Dusan Tadic - 6: Worked the channel between Gomez and Robertson effectively and harried the Liverpool defence. Drifted out of the game in the second period. PA
Mohammed Kudus - 4: Sustained an ankle injury in the early stages during a challenge with Fabinho and was replaced by Promes after nine minutes. A big loss for Ajax. EPA
SUBS: Quincy Promes - 4: Off the bench earlier that expected when Kudus was injured in the ninth minute. Should have opened the scoring moments before Liverpool took the lead. Disappointing effort. Getty
Jurgen Ekkelenkamp – 4: On for Klassen after 74 minutes but had little impact. Lifted an awkward bouncing ball over the bar in the final minute after Adrian’s wayward punch. AP
Zakaria Labyad - 4: Part of a double substitution with 16 minutes left, replacing Neres. A largely anonymous effort as the anticipated Ajax charge failed to materialise. AP
Lassina Traoré - 4: Sent on for Schuurs with six minutes left as Ajax became increasingly desperate. Had one difficult headed chance. AP
Klaas Jan Huntelaar - 4: The 37-year-old produced an unsatisfying six-minute cameo when coming on for Blind. Age has caught up with this once-prolific goalscorer. AP
LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Adrian - 5: Early mix up with Gomez set the uncertain tone in the Liverpool penalty area. Then allowed Tadic to charge down a clearance. Nervous performance but great reaction save from Promes. Getty
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 5: Did not produce his usual vibrancy going forward and – understandably - seemed preoccupied with his defensive duties. AFP
Joe Gomez – 5: Seemed to lack a little confidence. Not the worst of his recent performances but needs to improve his strength and anticipation. PA
Fabinho - 8: Tidied up a number of awkward situations in the penalty box. Brilliant clearance off the line capped an assured display. AP
Andrew Robertson - 7: Plenty of powerful forward runs and dangerous with the ball at his feet. A constant worry for the Ajax defence. EPA
James Milner - 5: Worked hard but frequently off the pace of the game. Booked for a cynical foul on Neres to stop a counter attack. Reuters
Georginio Wijnaldum - 5: Occasionally wasteful in possession but plugged the gaps when Ajax had the ball. Was set up with a chance by Jota but lacked composure. PA
Curtis Jones – 5: It was always going to be a big task for the 19-year-old to influence a game of this magnitude. No surprise when he was replaced by Henderson after half time. PA
Mohamed Salah - 5: Had a couple of opportunities but failed to make the most of them. A constant menace to the defence and Ajax were relieved when he was taken off on the hour. PA
Roberto Firmino - 4: Things are not quite working for the Brazilian at the moment. Lots of effort but looks short of sharpness and confidence. PA
Sadio Mane - 6: The liveliest of Liverpool’s attackers. In a splendid run of form and has the knack of making things happen. His miskick led to the freak goal. EPA
SUBS: Jordan Henderson – 6: Replaced Jones for the second half. His industry and experience helped the team see out the victory. EPA
Diogo Jota - 7: On for Firmino in Jurgen Klopp’s strange triple substitution on the hour. Not afraid to run at the defence. Superb ball to Wijnaldum late on to create a chance for the Dutchman. AP
Xherdan Shaqiri - 6: Given half an hour of action when Salah was withdrawn. Buzzed around and slipped a nice pass to Minamino to allow the Japanese to shoot in the box. AP
Takumi Minamino - 6: Took Mane’s place when the entire front unit was replaced after 60 minutes. Showed positive signs and tested Onana with a shot. AP
Rhys Williams - 4: Given four minutes of stoppage time as Milner’s legs faded. Good experience for the 19-year-old who was on loan at Kidderminster Harriers last season. Getty