Ajax are in for a stern scrutiny when Liverpool come calling on Wednesday, and we expect this tie to live up to its billing as one of the most exciting group stage games of this season’s competition.
Champions League 2020/21
Date: Wednesday, October 21st
Kick-off: 20:00
Venue: Johan Cruijff Arena
Liverpool travel to Amsterdam looking to put a painful Merseyside derby experience behind them as they will feel hard done by having being denied a last-gasp victory over Everton by the tightest and most contentious VAR call yet.
The two points that dubious decision cost them would have been hard enough to take without also losing Virgil van Dijk to an ACL injury which could possibly keep him out for the remainder of the season.
Thus, Jürgen Klopp will alongside him, make do without Thiago Alcantara and Joel Matip for this game, bearing in mind that The Reds are now facing up to the prospect of losing three successive Champions League games for the
first time since November 2014. They head into the contest still without a win from their three October outings across all competitions
Ajax have done just fine this term and come into this one on the back of their 5-1 demolition of Heerenveen last weekend.
The four-time European champions
will fancy their chances of progressing from a group which also contains Atalanta BC and FC
Midtjylland. They have only managed to make it into the knockout rounds once from their last seven attempts — their unforgettable run to the
semi-finals two years ago.
You have to go back to the 1966-67 season before either of these sides had been crowned European champions — for the last meeting between the two sides. So what does this one have in stock yet?
Team news
Ajax
Eric Ten Haag will have a clean bill of health for this game.
Liverpool
Thiago Alcantara will be assessed closer to kick-off as his knee injury lingers.
Alisson Becker remains sidelined, although he could return before the end of the month, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a long-term absentee.
Head to Head
Liverpool have won one and drawn another of their last two meetings with Ajax.
Team form
Ajax last five competitive games: WWWLW
Liverpool last five competitive games: WWLLD
Betting tips
Liverpool might have fallen short of maximum points against Everton, but we reckon they will have enough in their armoury to beat Ajax. The Premier League side are 8/11 to begin on that note, as per the ods.
You can view all other betting markets for this game here
