Liverpool suffered a nightmare start to their UEFA Champions League campaign with a 4-1 loss to Napoli, with Ajax enjoying a 4-0 win against Rangers as the two sides prepare to meet in Merseyside this week.
The Reds have endured a rough start to the campaign with injuries and out-of-form players having a big effect on Jurgen Klopp’s torrid time of late, whilst Ajax have been unfazed with the departure of manager Erik Ten Hag and star players Lisandro Martinez and Antony to Manchester United.
Ajax sit top of the Eredivise with a perfect record of six wins from six games, with the Dutch giants in ferocious form ahead of their trip to Anfield, which could cough up another shock result if Liverpool once again fail to impress against their European rivals.
The two sides are some of the most prestigious in Champions League history, and here at HITC Sport, we take a crack at a combined XI featuring Liverpool and Ajax players ahead of the huge clash this week that could define the outcome of the group.
Alexander-Arnold dropped for teenager Rensch as Van Dijk & Alisson star
Liverpool have had numerous underperforming players this season, yet Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performances have come as a real concern for players and pundits, and because of this, the England international is absent from our XI, with 19-year-old Ajax talent Devyne Rensch out starting right-back.
Joining the youngster in the defence are names we’d come to expect when we think of Liverpool’s defence, with Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson starting in the backline with Alisson Becker, with the trio impressing in patches this season for the Reds.
With Martinez now in Manchester with United, the move has seen Edson Alvarez become one of Ajax’s most important defensive players, and whilst the Mexican international usually starts as a defensive midfielder, the 24-year-old has and can play at centre-back, the position we have placed him in our combined XI.
Fabinho Liverpool’s only midfielder as youngsters Kudus & Taylor represent Ajax
Midfield has been a huge problem area for Liverpool this season, with injuries ravaging the position so much that Fabio Carvalho has already been called upon by Klopp to play in the absence for the likes of Thiago Alcantara and Naby Keita, yet in our XI, Fabinho is the sole representative for the Premier League giants.
As mentioned, Ajax have got off to a storming start to the season both domestically and in Europe, and goals from the midfield have played a massive role in this, with youngster Mohammed Kudus and Kenneth Taylor (yes, there is a 20-year-old in Holland with the same name as 55-year-old from your local with questionable opinions) both starring for Alfred Schreuder’s side.
Kudus, in particular, has starred for Ajax after missing the majority of last season through injury, with the Ghana superstar already bagging five goals in all competitions as the 22-year-old looks to be one of the Dutch side’s biggest threats this campaign if he can remain fit.
Salah absent with Firmino leading the line with Tottenham flop Bergwijn
As well as Alexander-Arnold, a huge Liverpool player who has disappointed so far this season is Mohamed Salah, with the Egyptian winger scoring just three goals in all competitions for the Anfield giants, and as a result, Roberto Firmino has taken on the mantle as Klopp’s most dangerous forward this campaign.
The Brazilian has impressed in the absence of Diogo Jota, and joining Firmino in the frontline are Ajax stars Steven Bergwijn and Steven Berghuis, with the former joining from Tottenham after ending his £27m nightmare in north London, and in doing so, starring for the Dutch giants this campaign.
Eight goals in all competitions already this season is quite the tally for Bergwijn, whilst the ever-reliable Berghuis has hit his stride with Ajax under Schreuder, with the former Feyenoord captain the best player on the pitch in the 4-0 win against Rangers last week.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
