Ajax lost their Champions League opener 1-0 against Liverpool due to Nicolas Tagliafico’s first half own goal.
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Erik ten Hag decided to line up in a 4-3-1-2 formation for the tie with Daley Blind moving into the midfield, while David Neres partnered Dusan Tadic up front.
However, Ten Hag’s gameplan was shattered early on with Mohamed Kudus going down with an injury, and he had to be replaced by Quincy Promes.
The game was end to end with both teams looking dangerous. The first big chance came in the 33rd minute when Neres picked out Promes in the box, but from point blank range the attacker fired straight at Adrian.
A minute later, Liverpool made Ajax pay with Sadio Mane bursting past Perr Schuurs before his cross was diverted into his own net by Nicolas Tagliafico.
Before the break, Ajax got a great chance to equalise through Tadic, but after chipping the ball over Adrian, the Serbian saw Fabinho race back to clear off the line.
A minute into the second half, Ajax came within inches off the equaliser as the inside of the post denied Davy Klaassen. Promes then had a strike from the edge of the box clawed away by Adrian.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp was clearly not happy with what he saw from his forward line as he made a triple change on the hour mark. Salah, Mane and Firmino all came off for Minamino, Shaqiri and Jota.
Minamino nearly sealed the win for Liverpool but Onana was equal to his strike.
As the half wore on, Ten Hag threw on Zakaria Labyad, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Lassina Traore in search of an equalise. However, the equaliser did not come as Liverpool held on, with Ekkelenkamp sending one late chance over the bar.
Ajax start with a defeat, while in the group’s other game Atalanta hammered Midtjylland 4-0.
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