Jurgen Klopp noticed a slight change from Liverpool after Ajax scored at Anfield tonight. The Reds managed to secure a 2-1 win.
Liverpool got the result they hoped for as they beat Ajax 2-1 at Anfield on Tuesday night. The win not only ends a poor run of form but makes sure they have a great chance of getting out of their Champions League group.
Defeat would have been a disaster and a draw not much better. Not after Liverpool lost 4-1 to Napoli last week. Falling behind both of their chief group rivals at the earliest stage would have created a struggle that they don’t recover from.
Instead, Liverpool picked up a win – but it was still a fight. The Reds took the lead through Mohamed Salah but Ajax hit back with what proved to be their only shot on target. The team just couldn’t find a bit of fortune, it seemed.
And Jurgen Klopp believes that did hurt the team. Although subtle, he noticed that Liverpool’s pressing just wasn’t the same after Ajax scored.
“It’s like another test, if you want,” he told BT Sport. “Everybody was hoping [the game] goes in the right direction and then you get this setback. And you could see the impact of that.
“The pressing before the goal was much better than after the goal. We only talk about a yard or two, in these moments, but a little bit of intensity.”
Liverpool faltered after Ajax scored
We do wonder how much that worries Klopp. This team are supposed to be mentality monsters, after all, but it seems the setbacks are hurting them mentally. At the very least, they’re not quite as confident out there.
So on the one hand, Klopp will hate seeing that. On the other, Liverpool did falter a touch but still pushed forward to find the win. The hope will be that there is no reduction in intensity the next time such a setback happens.
Certainly, Liverpool can focus on the positives as they prepare for a lengthy break. And there were moments to cheer against Ajax – not everyone is out of form, after all.
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