Liverpool vs Ajax result: Player ratings as Curtis Jones sends Reds through to Champions League last 16

Liverpool 1-0 Ajax: A free-flowing game was settled by Curtis Jones’ first European goal

Curtis Jones (right) celebrates with Neco Williams after putting Liverpool in front of Ajax (Reuters)

Liverpool beat Ajax 1-0 to confirm their place in the Champions League last 16.

Curtis Jones struck the woodwork in the opening 10 minutes with a fine strike from the edge of the box, but despite a succession of sights of goal for both teams the match remained goalless at the break.

The match remained extremely open after the break, with Davy Klaassen missing the target with a header and David Neres hitting the post, but it was Jones who opened the scoring with a fine finish from a narrow angle.

Roberto Firmino had a late shot tipped onto the post by Andre Onana late on, before Caoimhin Kelleher made an even later stop to deny Klass-Jan Huntelaar an equaliser.

Here are the player ratings from the clash at Anfield.

Liverpool

Caoimhin Kelleher - 7. A comfortable early save or two settled any nerves and he put in a largely steady showing on his European debut - then made a great late save to top it off.

Neco Williams - 6. Delivered the cross for the goal, though at the other end was beaten several times.

Joel Matip - 7. Routine work for the most part although did lose Klaassen several times on crosses.

Fabinho - 9. Several important blocks and interceptions from the stand-in centre-back.

Andy Robertson - 6. Fairly quiet considering his usual importance. Did take an early knock to the ankle.

Jordan Henderson - 7. A good showing on the ball and hard-working defensively.

Curtis Jones - 8. Hit the post and had another early shot saved. Often the link man between midfield and attack. Deserved first European strike for the midfielder.

Gini Wijnaldum - 7. Standard performance from the No. 5: reliable, won back the ball, protected the back line and covered every inch of grass.

Mohamed Salah - 7. Made lots of brilliant runs which weren’t spotted. Wasted one or two openings when he might have taken on the shot earlier.

Diogo Jota - 5. Saw plenty of the ball but his final pass and timing of the ball was hopelessly lacking.

Sadio Mane - 7. Liverpool’s biggest threat running behind the defence but again failed to unduly trouble the goalkeeper.

Ajax

Andre Onana - 7. Made a good save or two but made the crucial error when he misjudged a cross, leading to Jones’ goal. Brilliant late save to deny sub Firmino.

Noussair Mazraoui - 7. Did well against Mane in the channel. Had a great early effort saved.

Perr Schuurs - 7. Covering defensive runs were good and a couple of tackles were key, though he was beaten one-on-one more than once twice.

Daley Blind - 6. Struggled with the movement of the Liverpool front men. Booked too.

Nicolas Tagliafico - 6. Didn’t get forward on the overlap as much as he would usually like to and couldn’t track Salah all the time.

Davy Klaassen - 7. Made so many great runs forward but missed the target two or three times when he should have troubled the keeper.

Edson Alvarez - 5. Sat back early on before pushing on into midfield more but had little impact on the ball and couldn’t stop the home team’s counters.

Ryan Gravenberch - 7. Clever movement, always looked forwards for his first pass.

David Neres - 7. Some excellent crosses for his team-mates to attack. Taken off injured in the second half.

Antony - 7. Started well and had a couple of good dribbles infield for shots, but couldn’t trouble Kelleher.

Dusan Tadic - 7. Caused lots of problems with his movement into deep areas and clever crosses.