Liverpool vs Ajax Match Analysis and Prediction

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Two teams on opposite ends of multiple-goal showdowns last week go head to head in Tuesday’s Champions League Group A clash at Anfield, as Liverpool play host to Ajax.

The Reds were on the receiving end of a 4-1 defeat to Napoli on matchday one, while Ajax beat Rangers four goals without response.

The inquest into Liverpool’s defeat at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona continued into the weekend, as Klopp’s side, alongside other Premier League teams, saw their matches postponed in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death.

Luis Diaz’s consolation was all the travelling Reds fans had to cheer against Napoli, which saw Liverpool’s underwhelming start to the new season reach a low ebb, and they are already playing catch-up in the fight to make the last-16.

Liverpool occupy third spot in the group standings after one game, but the Anfield crowd can take solace in the fact that the Reds have won their last two on home turf and have never begun a Champions League campaign with back-to-back defeats before.

Meanwhile, Ajax were impressive last week as they put Rangers into a footballing class in a 4-0 victory, with Edson Alvarez, Steven Berghuis, Mohammed Kudus and Teven Bergwijn getting on the scoresheet.

There have been no signs of a post-Erik ten Hag hangover for the Dutch champions this season, as they extended their winning streak to seven matches with a 5-0 Eredivisie victory over Heerenveen at the weekend.

Ajax have not faced the most intimidating of starts to their domestic campaign, but their Champions League intuition was as alive as ever against Rangers, and the visitors have now kept five clean sheets in a row across all competitions ahead of Tuesday’s clash.

Furthermore, they have only posted two defeats from their last 25 away matches in all European competition.

Liverpool vs Ajax head to head

These two teams have previously met on just two occasions in the Champions League back in 2020, where Liverpool won both away and home, scoring two goals and keeping clean sheets in the process.

Ajax 0-1 Liverpool 21/10/20

Liverpool 1-0 Ajax 01/12/20

Liverpool latest home form

Liverpool have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their six most recent matches. They managed to defeat Newcastle United 2-1 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 15 goals and conceded six.

Liverpool 3-1 Manchester City 30/07/22

Liverpool 0-3 Strasbourg 31/07/22

Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace 15/08/22

Liverpool 9-0 AFC Bournemouth 27/08/22

Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle United 31/08/22

Liverpool latest away form

Liverpool have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having been winless in their five most recent matches. They lost 4-1 to Napoli in their last away game in the Champions League. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded nine.

Salzburg 1-0 Liverpool 27/07/22

Fulham 2-2 Liverpool 06/08/22

Manchester United 2-1 Liverpool 22/08/22

Everton 0-0 Liverpool 03/09/22

Napoli 4-1 Liverpool 07/09/22

Ajax latest home form

Ajax have recently been on a good run of form at home, as they have won each of their four most recent matches. They managed to defeat Heerenveen 5-0 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 22 goals and conceded six.

Ajax 3-5 PSV 30/07/22

Ajax 6-1 Groningen 14/08/22

Ajax 4-0 Cambuur 03/09/22

Ajax 4-0 Rangers 07/09/22

Ajax 5-0 Heerenveen 10/09/22

Ajax latest away form

Ajax have recently been on a good run of form on the road, as they have been unbeaten in their eight most recent matches. They managed to defeat Utrecht 2-0 in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded five.

Salzburg 2-3 Ajax 19/07/22

Almere City 1-1 Ajax 31/07/22

Fortuna Sittard 2-3 Ajax 06/08/22

Sparta Rotterdam 0-1 Ajax 21/08/22

Utrecht 0-2 Ajax 28/08/22

Liverpool news

Liverpool prepare to take to the pitch without Curtis Jones, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and Jordan Henderson once again.

Fabio Carvalho will expect to force his way into contention having had ample time to recover from a dead leg, while Thiago Alcantara returned to fitness against Napoli, which was a welcome boost for Klopp.

Ajax news

Left-back Owen Wijnadl has returned to training following an ankle injury, but this contest will likely come too soon for him, but Calvin Bassey picked up a knock against Heerenveen.

Schreuder confirmed after the game that the centre-back did not sustain any serious damage and could therefore be in contention for a start this week.

Prediction and Odds

Liverpool have had an extra period of rest which may work in their favour in terms of fitness, but Klopp is not fully confident of facing an Ajax side who only know how to win.

However, a refreshed Liverpool front line can turn up the heat at the Anfield fortress to rescue a point.

Odds: 1 2.20 X 2.03 2 2.28