Liverpool advanced into the last 16 of the Champions League last night.
Jurgen Klopp’s side, who won the competition in 2019, beat Ajax 1-0 at Anfield to move into the knockout phase.
Klopp fielded some huge names, like Mo Salah, Fabinho, Diogo Jota, Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane.
But really, the night belonged to players that Liverpool produced, not purchased.
It was teen sensation Curtis Jones who bagged the winner with what was his first Champions League goal, capitalising on a goalkeeping error on 58 minutes to give Klopp’s side the lead – a goal that was set up by fellow academy graduate Neco Williams.
And not only that, but 22-year-old goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, a surprise inclusion in the first XI, also played a huge role in the victory by pulling off some fine saves to protect his side’s lead – including from the legendary Klaas-Jan Huntelaar late on.
The win and the night belonged to stars of Liverpool’s tomorrow – and here’s how one star of yesterday, Jamie Carragher, reacted on Twitter:
That about sums it up for Liverpool and it really is testament to their young players that they can orchestrate victory over a side who reached the semi-final of this competition back in 2019, even if some of their household names have left since then.
The fact that Mane, Jota and Salah struggled to score should indicate that Ajax remain a top team and how exciting it is that they were undone by some youngsters last night.
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