‘Susceptible’: Former Liverpool man thinks two players are weak links and backs Ajax

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Former Liverpool forward Erik Meijer is backing Ajax to cause a Champions League shock on Wednesday night with the absence of Virgil van Dijk leaving Jurgen Klopp’s side looking vulnerable, while speaking to AD.

As Jamie Carragher was at pains to point out on Sky Sports, a Liverpool side shorn of their giant Dutchman suddenly feels a little less invincible.

The injury-hit Joel Matip has not started a game since June, while Joe Gomez looks a fading shadow of the man who dominated even the most feared centre-forwards in the game during an exceptional 2019/20 campaign.

Goal even suggests that 17-year-old Billy Koumetio could be thrown in at the deep end during a daunting trip to Amsterdam with Matip a doubt.

One-time Holland international Meijer believes Ajax can cause plenty of problems to a Liverpool side who have conceded nine times in their last two matches.

“(Van Dijk) is the leader. A good Liverpool team has become a world-class team with thanks to Virgil and goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Liverpool will miss Virgil’s body language and leadership skills,” said Meijer, who played for the Merseyside giants between 1999 and 2001.

“Matip and Gomez are more susceptible to injury and sometimes give a wrong pass. Ajax must really hope for that.”

Meijer believes that Ajax are capable of causing major problems to Liverpool, with the kind of rapid transitions that ripped Real Madrid, Tottenham and Juventus to shreds during a stunning run to the Champions League semi-final in 2019.

“Liverpool’s weakness may well be the strength of Ajax. They can use the strong body of Tadic as a striker to hurt Liverpool in the transition.

“You can compensate for the lack of experience and quality with fresh and dynamic play.”

Ajax endured a sluggish start to the new Eredivisie season but, worryingly for Klopp and co, produced their finest performance of the campaign so far on Sunday in a 5-1 shellacking of Heerenveen.