Ajax 0-3 Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp's side reach Champions League last 16

Mohamed Salah has scored six goals in his past four Champions League games

Liverpool put their domestic woes behind them by reaching the Champions League knockout stage with a clinical second-half display against Ajax in Amsterdam.

Needing a draw to reach the last 16, the Reds were fortunate not to be behind before Mohamed Salah clipped in with their only shot on target of the first half.

Darwin Nunez, back in the starting line-up after injury, should have doubled the lead before half-time but the £64m summer signing struck a post with an open goal in front of him.

However, the Uruguay forward quickly made amends by powering in a precise header from Andy Robertson's corner shortly after the restart.

Moments later, England Under-21s midfielder Harvey Elliott added the third by latching on to Salah's reverse pass and lashing into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Liverpool knew a draw would be enough to clinch their spot in the last 16 for the sixth successive season.

But the comfortable victory means the Reds host Napoli in next week's final round of group-stage fixtures safe in the knowledge their place is assured.

Asked if the performance would provide a lift for his squad, Reds boss Jurgen Klopp told BT Sport: "Look, we don't have to talk about it all the time but it is clear.

"We are through to the knockout stage and I will never take that for granted.

"It is really helpful for the club, it is important for everybody and of course gives us a lift. Tonight we feel all great."

Experience sees Liverpool through

Liverpool's inconsistent start to the season, epitomised by another disjointed performance in a shock 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest at the weekend, has frustrated their supporters and left some wondering about the direction of Klopp's side.

The prospect of a smooth passage to the Champions League knockout phase was far from certain after a heavy defeat by Napoli in their opening Group A game.

But their vast experience in Europe's premier club competition, which they won in 2019 and finished runners-up last season, has eventually provided much-needed comfort and swiftly brushed away any early fears of not progressing.

Home and away victories over Rangers and Ajax have propelled the Reds into last 16, while the prize of finishing group winners is still up for grabs if they can beat Napoli by a four-goal cushion at Anfield.

Despite being far from their best in Amsterdam, particularly in the first half, Liverpool's quality and know-how eventually shone through against the Dutch champions.

Things could have been much different had Ajax taken either of the two glorious chances which they spurned before Salah's strike.

A slick move carved open the visitors in the third minute, only for Steven Berghuis to hit the post when he had time and space in the penalty box.

With Liverpool lacking cohesion and not managing a serious effort on the home goal, another clear-cut chance went begging when they piled forward on the counter-attack shortly after the half-hour mark.

The quick surge left Liverpool outnumbered at the back, but right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold showed excellent positional sense to block Dusan Tadic's goal-bound shot.

Injuries to key players have not helped the Reds' momentum this season, a point emphasised by Klopp in the build-up to the trip to Amsterdam.

Being able to welcome back Alexander-Arnold and skipper Jordan Henderson added a much-needed layer of experience at Johan Cruyff Arena, with Nunez offering a focal point in their attack.

Now Klopp's task is to ensure his side can finally start stringing together convincing performances in the Premier League, starting with Saturday's visit of a Leeds United side bereft of confidence.

Player of the match

RobertsonAndrew Robertson

Ajax

Squad number3Player nameBassey

Squad number22Player namePasveer

Squad number19Player nameSánchez

Squad number2Player nameTimber

Squad number10Player nameTadic

Squad number17Player nameBlind

Squad number9Player nameBrobbey

Squad number20Player nameKudus

Squad number7Player nameBergwijn

Squad number23Player nameBerghuis

Squad number4Player nameÁlvarez

Squad number6Player nameKlaassen

Squad number8Player nameTaylor

Squad number5Player nameWijndal

Squad number21Player nameGrillitsch

Squad number35Player nameFrancisco Conceição

Line-ups

Ajax

Formation 4-3-3

22Pasveer

19Sánchez2Timber3Bassey17Blind

6Klaassen4Álvarez23Berghuis

7Bergwijn9Brobbey10Tadic

22Pasveer19Sánchez2Timber3Bassey17BlindSubstituted forWijndalat 58'minutes6KlaassenSubstituted forKudusat 58'minutes4ÁlvarezSubstituted forGrillitschat 85'minutes23BerghuisSubstituted forFernandes da Conceiçãoat 85'minutes7Bergwijn9BrobbeySubstituted forTaylorat 63'minutes10Tadic

Substitutes

1Stekelenburg5Wijndal8Taylor11Ocampos15Rensch16Gorter18Lucca20Kudus21Grillitsch29Magallán35Fernandes da Conceição

Liverpool

Formation 4-1-2-1-2

1Alisson

66Alexander-Arnold2Gomez4van Dijk26Robertson

3Fabinho

19Elliott14Henderson

9Firmino

27Núñez11Salah

1Alisson66Alexander-Arnold2Gomez4van Dijk26RobertsonSubstituted forTsimikasat 87'minutes3FabinhoSubstituted forBajceticat 71'minutes19ElliottSubstituted forCarvalhoat 71'minutes14HendersonSubstituted forMilnerat 71'minutes9Firmino27NúñezSubstituted forJonesat 63'minutes11Salah