Ajax vs Liverpool player ratings: Fabinho stars in defence as Reds start with a Champions League win

Ajax Liverpool Champions League on Wednesday night.

The first big chance fell to early sub Quincy Promes, but his close-range shot was saved by the feet of Adrian. Just after the half-hour mark at the other end the Reds opened the scoring, with Sadio Mane’s scuffed shot being turned in by Nicolas Tagliafico for an own goal.

Both teams nearly added further first-half goals as Fabinho cleared a Dusan Tadic lob off the line, while Roberto Firmino had a powerful header saved.

Davy Klaassen hit the post minutes after the restart, before Liverpool missed a succession of chances to score a second, notably through Fabinho, Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota.

Here are the player ratings from the match in Amsterdam.

Ajax

Andre Onana - 7. Took high balls well and showed good positional work to cut out low crosses and through-passes. A couple of good, if relatively routine, saves.

Noussair Mazraoui - 7. Solid defensive work, supported the attack from deep.

Perr Schuurs - 7. Stood up well to the task of stopping Mane’s dribbles in the channel most of the time, though did lose him for the opening goal.

Lisandro Martinez - 6. Relatively solid with his positional work but lost out aerially an awful lot.

Nicolas Tagliafico - 7. Unfortunate to lose his coordination for the own goal. Got forward to good effect in the second half.

Daley Blind - 7. Two good recovery runs to stop Liverpool forwards being free in the box.

Ryan Gravenberch - 7. Very composed in possession, looked a danger when driving toward the area.

David Neres - 7. Flitted in and out of the game but overall a positive performance.

Davy Klaassen - 6. Didn’t have too much influence in open play, but twice went close with shots including one against the post just after half-time.

Dusan Tadic - 6. Moved to centre-forward early on, almost scored with a clever lob.

Mohammed Kudus - 6. Subbed off injured within 10 minutes before he’d had a chance to get involved.

Liverpool

Adrian - 6. Early errors with his clearances didn’t inspire confidence.

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6. Ineffective going forward for the most part. Defended well enough when one-on-one.

Joe Gomez - 8. Not always particularly clean with his clearances, but showed good concentration, recovery pace and an ability to win the ball in the air.

Fabinho - 9. Some early tackles showed he was up to the task of playing in defence again, while his overhead kick clearance off the line was incredible. Almost scored at the other end, too.

Andy Robertson - 8. Always an outlet, full of energy, troubled Ajax on the overlap.

Gini Wijnaldum - 6. The deepest midfielder first half, further forward later. Was probably better in the former role.

James Milner - 5. Lots of endeavour, little in the way of effective forward passing.

Curtis Jones - 5. Couldn’t get involved in the match, subbed at the break.

Mohamed Salah - 6. One early sight of goal was blocked, didn’t have much else aside from that.

Roberto Firmino - 5. Hard work but misplaced passes and flicks. One header flashed off target just before he, and the other members of the front three, were subbed on the hour.

Sadio Mane - 8. Liverpool’s biggest attacking threat in build-up play. His turn and run led to the goal.