SWEET 16 FOR CURTIS
Young stars shine as Reds march on
LIVERPOOL brushed aside their lastest injury woe by booking their place in the knockout stages.
Young star Curtis Jones, 19, scored the winner at Anfield and back- up goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, 22, kept a clean sheet after Alisson was ruled out with a hamstring problem.
Alisson will miss Sunday’s Premier League home clash with Wolves and the trip to Fulham the week after.
Kelleher now looks likely to keep his place after a fine late save last night.
After FC Midtjylland’s surprise draw against Atalanta, Liverpool are Group D winners and Jurgen Klopp could field a reserve team against the Danish minnows in their final group game.
CURTIS JONES took advantage of a howler from Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana to put Liverpool into the Champions League knockout stages last night.
The midfielder’s 58th- minute tap- in after the Cameroon keeper lost his bearings in attempting to deal with Neco Williams’ cross ensured Jurgen Klopp’s side joined Manchester City and Chelsea in the round of 16 after securing their passage out of Group D with a game to spare.
It was an inexplicable blunder and a strange twist in the tale of an evening which was supposed to revolve around the other keeper.
With Alisson ruled out with a leg muscle injury, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp opted to overlook his usual deputy Adrian and turn instead to Cork rookie Caoimhin Kelleher for what was his Champions League debut.
It was a call which underlined the degree to which Klopp has lost faith in Adrian but it was also a big test for Kelleher whose four appearances last season were restricted to the
Carabao Cup and FA Cup. He was not overworked but unlike Onana he passed it with flying colours.
It took 21 minutes for him to be called into action as ex- Everton midfielder Davy Klaassen – a threat back on Merseyside with his runs into the penalty area – brought a first save from his header although it would not have counted as he was offside. Noussair Mazraoui’s longrange drive 11 minutes later would have done but the young Irishman was equal to the task.
Liverpool won 1- 0 in Amsterdam in the first meeting between the two sides this season. But top of the Dutch Eredivisie after six successive victories, Ajax arrived in good form. They were happy to take their life in
their hands against Liverpool’s energetic press, playing their way out from the back. They pride themselves on being artists and the pictures they paint are pretty ones.
Dominating possession, they set Liverpool’s makeshift defence some puzzles to solve. The flip side was the space they afforded Liverpool which invited trouble. Dutch under21s international Perr Schuurs was booked for taking out Sadio Mane. Then, moments later,
Andy Robertson – the last man standing from Liverpool’s firstchoice rearguard – surged forwards to hit the side netting. With Jones having come closest to the opener in the sixth minute, striking a post with a curling strike after being set up by Mo Salah, it was a considerable surprise that a thoroughly entertaining first half ended 0- 0.
The second half started in much the same fashion and Klaassen should have done better with a nearpost header. Then Brazilian David Neres hit the Liverpool post.
Ajax were looking the more likely scorers but then Onana had his moment of madness. There looked no threat as
Williams’ hopeful ball into the penalty area looped towards the far post but the Ajax keeper went AWOL and Jones found the unguarded net from a tight angle with the outside of his right boot.
Onana made partial amends in shutting out Salah and substitute Roberto Firmino later but by then the damage was done.
Ajax will have another chance of qualification next week against Atalanta but Liverpool are safely through.
Kelleher rounded off his with a brilliant flying save Klaas- Jan Huntelaar with minutes left. night from two