Ajax vs Liverpool - Champions League: Team news, lineups & prediction
By Tom Gott
Just one point against Ajax is all Liverpool need to seal their spot in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
With a six-point advantage over Wednesday's opponents, Jurgen Klopp's side will be confident of getting the job done but will likely need a victory to keep alive hopes of finishing top spot, with Napoli currently three points out in front.
That's no guarantee for Liverpool, who followed victories over Manchester City and West Ham with a massive slip-up against Nottingham Forest at the weekend.
Here's all you need to know about this one.
Where are Ajax vs Liverpool playing?
- Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Stadium: Johan Cruyff Arena
- Date: Wednesday 26 October
- Kick-off Time: 20:00 BST / 15:00 EST / 12:00 PST
- VAR: Alejandro Hernández (ESP)
- Referee: José María Sánchez (ESP)
Ajax vs Liverpool H2H Results
- Ajax: 1 Win
- Liverpool: 3 Wins
- Draws: 1
Current Form (Last Five Games)
- Ajax: LWLWW
- Liverpool: LWWWL
Ajax team news
Midfielder Kenneth Taylor is doubtful because of a muscle issue and at risk of joining Ahmetcan Kaplan, Devyne Rensch and Mohamed Ihattaren on the treatment table.
Ajax predicted lineup vs Liverpool
Ajax Starting XI (4-3-3): Pasveer; Sanchez, Timber, Bassey, Blind; Klaassen, Alvarez, Berghuis; Tadic, Kudus, Bergwijn
Bench: Gorter, Stekelenburg, Magallan, Wijndal, Grillitsch, Fitz-Jim, Ocampos, Conceicao, Lucca, Brobbey
Liverpool team news
Darwin Nunez and Thiago are both expected to return to Liverpool's starting lineup after missing this weekend's defeat to Forest, but the jury remains out on Ibrahima Konate after his recent muscle strain.
Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota and Joel Matip are all out, while the recovering duo of Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain aren't in the Champions League squad.
Liverpool predicted lineup vs Ajax
Liverpool Starting XI (4-4-2): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Salah, Henderson, Thiago, Carvalho; Firmino, Nunez
Bench: Kelleher, Adrian, Konate, Phillips, Tsimikas, Milner, Bajcetic, Fabinho, Jones, Carvalho, Elliott
Ajax vs Liverpool score prediction
There are two very good teams who are seemingly doing their best to convince everyone otherwise. Ajax are top of the Eredivisie but just conceded ten goals across two games against Napoli, while Liverpool killed any optimism with their recent loss to Forest.
This has the feel of a chaotic game which may well play into Liverpool's hands. Ajax need a win and won't have any interest in settling for a draw, but that all-guns-blazing approach may leave them vulnerable to the counter-attacks that Liverpool have perfected under Klopp.
Expect plenty of goals, but expect Liverpool to get most of them.
Prediction: Ajax 1-3 Liverpool