Champions League: Fabinho helps Liverpool to three points

Liverpool takes all the spoils on Dutch soil when they beat Ajax by 1-0 on the night.

Jurgen Klopp’s limping Liverpool with a weaker defence kept their third clean sheet this season as they open their Champions League run with a victory over Ajax 1-0 at the Johan Cruijff Arena. This result was thanks to a massive performance from makeshift centre-back Fabinho.

Not the best display from the Reds who looked quite jaded on the night. The goal perfectly showcased what Liverpool was about during the 90 minutes. Sadio Mane’s always presence determination helped the Reds open the scoring with a bit of luck involved.

His penetrating run into the box was followed by a shot that was misjudged by Ajax fullback, Nicolás Tagliafico. He put the ball at the back of his own net, scoring the only goal of the game.

Besides the goal, Liverpool improved going forward with each passing minute but had very little quality in the final third and their execution in front of goal, squandering chance after chance.

This let us know, Klopp’s men were not going to gain three points by outscoring the Dutch champions. Instead, the defenders had to work their socks off and hold onto their one-goal lead for 55 minutes of the match.

No van Dijk and no Matip

No Virgil van Dijk and no Joel Matip, no problem! Fabinho stepped in, in their absence alongside Joe Gomez, with the two putting in stern performances as a centre-back pairing. Everything that was thrown at them, they dealt with, with ease.

The best bit of the game and the reason Liverpool took all the points back with them to Anfield is Fabinho’s goalline save. It was worthy of a win and a Man of the Match award. It was the perfect start required in the post-VVD injury.

Liverpool needs to cope without their star defender and most expensive club signing. But Fabinho has provided enough evidence so far this season that he is more than capable of filling in for Virgil.

Prior to their Champions League win, the Brazilian was involved as a CB in two of Liverpool’s clean sheets this season, including their Chelsea win in the Premier League.

He appears to be handling the task well but the Reds have got a huge hole in the middle of the park, where he usually operates. Nonetheless, this is still positive signs for Jurgen, who watch on as his team played just above average.

Up next… A late night meeting at Anfield with Sheffield United the challengers in some Premier League action.