Ajax midfielder Dusan Tadic believes Liverpool's ruthlessness was clear for all to see during the Champions League group stage meeting between the sides on Wednesday evening.
Jurgen Klopp's side headed into last night's fixture on the back of a disappointing defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon and were aiming to claim at least one point in order to progress to the knockout phase of Europe's elite competition.
It proved to be a challenging opening 40 minutes for the Reds in Amsterdam as Ajax piled on the pressure in search of what would have been a crucial first goal in the game. Among those to be denied in the final third was Tadic, who saw a goalbound effort blocked by Trent Alexander-Arnold from close range.
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Liverpool also survived a major scare when Steven Berghuis struck the post after two minutes and responded in ultimate style by scoring three times. Reflecting on how the evening could easily have played out in a different manner in contrast to what occured, Tadic told Ajax FC : "I think we should have scored a goal in the first half. We had a lot of chances: one with me, two times with Steven [Berghuis] and one time with Jorge [Sanchez] also. We should have scored and then it would have been a different game. We would have got more energy from the crowd.
"When we conceded the first goal it was difficult because top teams don't forgive you. When you give them a little bit space, they punish you. In the second half, we concede immediately the second goal and it was difficult.
"The first 30 minutes was very strong but we gave a goal away again from a set-piece - the same also happened in a crucial moment against Napoli. This is something we can improve but we need to look at the positive side and learn from this game."
Despite failing to reach the last-16 of the Champions League, one positive Tadic was able to take away from Wednesday's loss was the unwavering support of the Ajax fans present inside the Johan Cruyff Arena.
"They showed they really love our club, and this is what we need," said the Serbian "They recognise the energy from the team, we really wanted to do our best to win this game. I only feel sorry we didn't give them that goal because it was there [the chance to score]."
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