Liverpool claimed a narrow 1-0 win over Ajax on Wednesday night as they managed to a grab a victory without Virgil van Dijk.
With the Dutchman likely out for the season and Joel Matip also missing, Fabinho was pressed into a centre back role alongside Joe Gomez – and they kept a clean sheet.
That meant that Liverpool needed just the one goal to claim the win, and it came from an Ajax player as Nicolas Tagliafico inexplicably turned Sadio Mane’s effort into his own net.
Liverpool managed to keep Ajax at bay and leave with all three points, which will have been a welcome boost for Jurgen Klopp after a testing few days.
With around half an hour to go, Klopp was able to rotate his attacking options, as Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino were withdrawn in favour of Diogo Jota, Takumi Minamino and Xherdan Shaqiri.
The trio looked exciting together, and Minamino impressed with two shots on target – the most of any Liverpool player – as well as one key pass, one successful dribble and one aerial won in the false nine role.
Liverpool fans have been taking to Twitter to praise the Japanese attacker for his performance, branding him ‘graceful’, ‘so good’, ‘outstanding’ and brilliant’.
Others now think it’s time for him to start ahead of Firmino in the Premier League, as he deserves to be playing more based on his cameo against Ajax.
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