European nights at Anfield may be the stuff of cliches, but they can be magical, mythical affairs. What they have not been is empty occasions, the usual noise and colour replaced by four empty stands. Liverpool’s historic home was last full for a Champions League game, against Atletico Madrid in March. Its next continental clash, against FC Midtjylland, will be altogether quieter.
For Jurgen Klopp, the soundtrack will be different but the aims the same. “We love that competition and still loved the competition when we got knocked out last year, too early,” he said. “It is Europe, it is Anfield, it is the Champions League. No crowd but it is still the competition we love. We will see how far we can go. There are no guarantees but there are opportunities and I like opportunities.”
Klopp’s Liverpool have made the most of their chances, reaching the 2018 final and lifting the Champions League in 2019. They have since claimed the Premier League, but their aura of invincibility was established in Europe. Atletico inflicted Klopp’s first defeat in a two-legged European tie as Liverpool manager and even that came with an asterisk in unusual times.
“People forget that when you lose but we played a really good game in Madrid which we lost 1-0 and played a super game at home which we lost,” Klopp explained. “It sounds crazy, but what more can you do? It was a strange time; the last game before lockdown.”
Midtjylland, in the Champions League group stages for the first time, are not expected to provide such stiff opposition but Klopp has long been intrigued by the Danish club, who share an owner, Matthew Benham, with Brentford, and who have used statistics to propel their rise. During his sabbatical after leaving Borussia Dortmund, he looked to learn from them.
“About five years ago, in my break, I was interested to go for a while to Midtjylland or Brentford to see what they do exactly but then I signed for Liverpool so I couldn’t do that,” he explained. He will not underestimate them. “They will not wave the white flag,” Klopp said. “A lot of things are possible if you think quicker or different to other people. They have all my respect.”
Liverpool have borrowed from Midtjylland in one respect. Their throw-in coach Thomas Gronnemark works with both clubs, though Klopp said he is too professional to divulge any secrets. “Ajax used to work with him,” Klopp noted. “We are the Thomas Gronnemark group, pretty much.”
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Ajax v Liverpool ratings
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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
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Liverpool beat Ajax 1-0 last week in their first game without the injured Virgil van Dijk. "Last week was not the best of our lives," said Klopp. "But we can influence the response and I like the response. Every team would miss Virgil van Dijk. He is the best centre-half in the world. He plays pretty much every game for two-and-a-half years and three days later you have to build a new line-up. All the boys play together with Virg but they don't play without him."
Liverpool remain without one alternative in Joel Matip, plus Naby Keita and Thiago Alcantara, so Fabinho will continue in defence. “He is doing really well as a centre-back but we miss a lot Virgil, we cannot deny that,” said Alisson Becker.
The goalkeeper himself has given Liverpool a defensive boost after making a swifter-than-expected return from a shoulder injury against Sheffield United on Saturday. “As soon as the doctor said it was four-to-six weeks, I said ‘No, doc, we go to two or three maximum,” explained the Brazilian. “And he agrees with me and we go for it.”
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Liverpool v Sheffield United ratings
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LIVERPOOL RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 6: Made a fine save from Osborn and the defence are clearly more secure for his presence. Showed his rustiness by almost getting caught in possession by Burke in the second half. EPA -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 7: Nearly caught the goalkeeper napping from the half-way line early on and a great lobbed pass to tee up a chance for Salah showed the delicacy of his touch. Classy and efficient. Getty -
Joe Gomez - 6: Struggled to deal with McBurnie and needs to be more dominant in the air and less tentative on the ground. Lacks presence in the centre of defence. Reuters -
Fabinho - 4: Unfortunate to give away the penalty but not his best night. A run by Burke in the second half exposed his weaknesses at centre back, as did McBurnie’s physical approach. Getty -
Andrew Robertson - 7: Relentless down the left. So often generates the team’s attacking thrust down the wing and complements Mane. Never seems to run out of energy. AP -
Jordan Henderson - 6: Tireless but had to cover too much ground in what was often a two-man midfield. Brilliant cross in the build up to Firmino’s equaliser. Reuters -
Georginio Wijnaldum - 6: Held back by Jurgen Klopp to stop an altercation with Baldock. Was swamped by United’s midfield runners at times but showed his composure in the late stages of the game. EPA -
Diogo Jota - 7: Bold selection that paid off when the Portuguese scored the winning goal. His inclusion left Liverpool short-handed in midfield but the gamble was rewarded. Replaced by Minamino with seven minutes left. EPA -
Mohamed Salah - 7: Unlucky to hit the post after turning Egan in the area. His disallowed goal, rightly ruled out for offside, nevertheless showed the brilliance of his touch and vision. AP -
Roberto Firmino - 6: Worked tirelessly as usual and was rewarded with a much-needed goal. His impact is often unappreciated by supporters. Withdrawn in the closing minutes for Milner. EPA -
Sadio Mane -7: Had a hand in both goals. A nightmare for any defence to play against, even when not at his best. Reuters -
SUBS: Takumi Minamino - 5: Part of a double substitution with seven minutes left. Not much time to make an impact. Reuters -
James Milner - 5: On to shore things up in the final minutes. Reliable enough cameo in the circumstances. Getty -
SHEFFIELD UNITED RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 5: An early rush of blood almost cost his side a goal when he dashed out and failed to get the ball. Shortly after he was nearly caught out by an Alexander-Arnold free kick from the halfway line. Both these incidents were in the first three minutes. Things could only get better. AFP -
George Baldock - 7: Whipped in a number of dangerous crosses and a threatening presence going forward. Impressive performance. AP -
Chris Basham - 5: Lost track of his man before Firmino’s equaliser. The defence let themselves down on the marking for both Liverpool goals. EPA -
John Egan - 7: His sliding interception saved a goal in the opening moments. Produced a number of vital blocks. PA -
Ethan Ampadu - 7: Has been utilised more in defence this season but showed how effective he can be in midfield. Quick to loose balls and used possession well. EPA -
Enda Stevens - 6: Got caught under the ball for Jota’s goal, ruining an otherwise effective performance. EPA -
John Lundstram - 6: Should have been living on the edge after his early booking but still managed to make a nuisance of himself with his tackling. Substituted for McGoldrick with 14 minutes remaining. PA -
Sander Berge - 7: Coolly dispatched his penalty and worried Liverpool throughout. Deserved a better result for his efforts. EPA -
Ben Osborn - 6: Made Alisson work with an excellent volley and never stopped running. Moved the ball around quickly. Getty -
Oli McBurnie - 7: Wasted a chance to put his side two goals up but caused the defence trouble all night. Looks ungainly but worried Liverpool with his physicality. Pushed Fabinho and Gomez around. AFP -
Rhian Brewster - 4: Keen to make an impression against his former club but the 20-year-old was the least influential of the visiting side’s attackers. Replaced by Burke after 54 minutes. Reuters -
SUBS: Oliver Burke - 7: On for Brewster nine minutes after half time. Almost robbed Alisson in the area. Left Fabinho flatfooted during a threatening run into the area. Should have done better with stoppage-time chance. PA -
David McGoldrick - 6: Replaced Lundstram with 14 minutes left. Went close with a half-volley that flew over the bar. Reuters
