21 OCT 2020; Ajax - Liverpool; CL Group Match Day 1

[Amol]

Apparently we're either playing 4-4-2 or ETH is truly playing Kudus on the wing

Ajax XI: Onana, Mazraoui, Schuurs, Martínez, Tagliafico, Gravenberch, Klaassen, Kudus, Blind, Neres, Tadic

Liverpool XI: Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Fabinho, Robertson, Jones, Milner, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Mané

[Amol]

In about 270 minutes, ETH will be called an Evil Genius or an Idiot with that lineup and formation.

[Tom_]

That does seem unusual. One of Mazraoui, Blind or Martinez in MF...? or do you reckon we’re playing a 5-3-2?!

[Ayman]

Let's pause for a minute, remember when Blind was played a midfielder by Ten Hag and had to change it because it was clear that Blind is a centre back and not a midfielder. Curtis and Wijnaldum will run rings around the Ajax midfield. We are toast, unless ten Hag changes it early in the game.

[Amol]

That does seem unusual. One of Mazraoui, Blind or Martinez in MF...? or do you reckon we’re playing a 5-3-2?!

Apparently a 4-4-2 with Blind as the lone DM or pair of DMs with Klaassen.

[Cruijff]

That does seem unusual. One of Mazraoui, Blind or Martinez in MF...? or do you reckon we’re playing a 5-3-2?!

Frank de Boer played 5-3-2 a week ago against Italy, but Ten Hag comes with a bit different concept.
Ten Hag says in the interview that Blind will get the central role. Sometimes he will defend, other moments he'll be on the midfield.

Let's pause for a minute, remember when Blind was played a midfielder by Ten Hag and had to change it because it was clear that Blind is a centre back and not a midfielder.

Bayern Münich - Ajax (1-1) about 2 years ago Ajax was playing without Frenkie de Jong. Blind played on the midfield that night and he played awesome.

[Tom_]

Maybe for pace since Blind is a bit slower than Martinez and Schuurs, and they’re going to have Salah and Sane running at them. Let’s see what happens

[SPL]

Would be happy with a draw , at least Alvarez is not playing.

[Tom_]

Damn, Kudus out with a knee injury. Promes replacing him

[Amol]

Ajax seems so much more comfortable being back in a 4-3-3 after Kudus' unfortunate injury

[Tom_]

Three really good chances but behind on an OG. Maybe a bit unlucky. Liverpool only really dangerous on the counter.

[kezme44]

very unlucky. i wish tadic would have smashed that ball even from the tighter angle. klaassen looking good and tracking back. we can still totally win this game.

[SPL]

unlucky with the OG but we were unlucky with that chance being cleared off the line.Hope Kudus is ok

[Tom_]

Ajax seems so much more comfortable being back in a 4-3-3 after Kudus' unfortunate injury

Yeah, and it also helps a lot having Tadic in the centre IMO

[Ayman]

Not comfortable with the spaces at the back when Liverpool counter attack.

[Amol]

Is it just me or are we playing at a much slower tempo than we need to be? Not helping that both Neres and Promes are totally out of form. Also missing the spark with Antony and Kudus.

LABYAD. He's bringing on LABYAD!?!

[Tom_]

Reckon Neres is still not 100%?

It’s a shame because we had the chances to win this, but it’s not an embarrassment.

[Amol]

Embarrassment - no not at all. We could've won this game today.

Our backline isnow Nous-Martinez-Nico. ETH finally gone mad.

[Tom_]

Yes, those last 10 minutes were chaos. Think Liverpool were more likely to score in that situation.

In the end their superior finishing in the first half (1 goal from no chances) gets them over the line.

[Amol]

Yeah I think we started the game with the wrong mentality and that's where the game was lost.

Starting with a 4-4-2 trying and playing ultra conservative to save ourselves from a blowout - was the wrong mindset.

We should've gone with an extremely attacking lineup and push Liverpool back from the very beginning.

[Ayman]

Some of the players up front, Neres and Promes especially seemed a bit rusty. But the first half was exhilarating. Let's hope for a recovery from Antony asap, Kudus may take a little longer to recover.

[Orange14]

Unfortunate to lose by an own goal but Liverpool always looked a little more dangerous on the night. Klaassen and Tadic had chances but a good clearance off the line and the upright protected the Liverpool goal. EtH put out an interesting line up with Blind as the controlling MR with Martinez slotting in the back line. It worked pretty well. For the most part the defense held up OK with the top front line players from Liverpool pretty well controlled. Ajax lost Kudus to a knee injury early on and let us hope it is just a bad bang and not anything more serious. Atalanta poured in the goals against Midtjylland to go top of the table.

Player Ratings:

Onana (7) - had some good saves and was lucky when he was way out of the box that Liverpool could not capitalize
Tagliafico (6.5) - stuff happens and he ends up with the match winner for Liverpool but had a decent enough game otherwise
Martinez (7.5) - he was really tough winning every ball that came his way
Schuurs (5.5) - one really bonehead play with the weak back pass and some dicey defending
Mazraoui (6.5) - decent enough but could not do much going forward
Blind (7) - had a good night over all with his distribution
Klaassen (7) - one bad touch but otherwise dogged on defense and a solid shot that probably needed to be a cm more to the left to go in
Gravenberch (6.5) - decent first half and then kind of disappeared
Kudus (NR) - off early with a knee injury
Tadic (7) - tried to do all he could in the tight space up front but could not get a shot off
Neres (6) - really not much of an impact but did track back well helping out on defense
Promes (6.5) - on for Kudus for most of the match and had a couple of half chances
Labyad (5.5) - did some good work on the right side coming on for the final 20 minutes
Ekkelenkamp (5.5) - had a shot near the end but skied it over but I don't think he really had a good shot with three players right in front of him
Huntelaar (NR) - on late to try to snatch a goal
Traore (NR) - on late as well

[SPL]

We were unlucky in a goal line clearance and hitting the post and a draw would have been a fair result.

Not sure what happened in the last 10 mins or so with 5 forwards on .

Martinez played very well but with Kudus out injured our MF will be weaker. Klaassen Gravenberch both did well and Blind in front of the back 4 .

I would say if that was the best team in England what are some of the rest like . This Ajax squad would finish in the top 10 and of course we would have another 150m pa. in Tv money so Donny,Hakim , Matthijs and even Frenkie would still be playing.

[SPL]

I thought Martinez our best player ,pleased to see Orange rates him the best .

[Orange14]

I thought Martinez our best player ,pleased to see Orange rates him the best .

He was MOTM for Ajax from my perspective.