Liverpool secured their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with comfortable victory at Ajax on Wednesday.
Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott were all on target as three goals in 10 minutes earned the Reds a 3-0 win at the Dutch champions. The result means Jurgen Klopp’s side have qualified for the knockout stages in the competition for the sixth season in a row.
But there was plenty that went unnoticed or under the radar during the 90 minutes at the Johan Cruiyff ArenA.
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New balls, please
James Milner was given a late run-out from the bench to help Liverpool see out their victory. But there was a danger the veteran may not make it through the half-time warm-up on the pitch.
The midfielder was caught in his particulars by a wayward pass from teenager Stefan Bajcetic, who sharply vacated the scene while the nearby Ibrahima Konate failed to contain his laughter at what he had just witnessed.
Milner, meanwhile, was doubled up in pain before gingerly resuming his routine. Presumably after a quick count to two, of course.
Touch of Klaassen
Ajax failed to turn their early dominance into goals. And they found it particularly difficult to make an impact at set-pieces, with Virgil van Dijk in good form in the air.
Not that it stopped former Everton midfielder Davy Klaassen attempting to distract his fellow Dutchman at one corner by seemingly tickling underneath one of the Liverpool centre-back's outstretched arms.
Van Dijk didn't flinch. In fact, you wonder if even a Milneresque incident would threaten the defender's famed composure.
Media told
Van Dijk was in particularly good spirits after his latest return to his home country ended in a morale-boosting triumph, a mood reflected by his quip in the post-match mixed zone.
As the gathered journalists waited to grab a few words with a player, the defender popped his head around the corner and enquired: "Is it going to be positive tonight? Can we just not talk about the first 20 minutes?"
Nobody was quite brave enough to say "Yes, Virgil. And no".
Fans don't worry
Unlike in too many recent Liverpool games, there was an excellent atmosphere before, during and after the game in Amsterdam.
The PA system gave the travelling Reds a nod by playing You'll Never Walk Alone - albeit an hour before kick-off - while the start of the second half saw Ajax fans belt out a rendition of Bob Marley's Three Little Birds.
Liverpool supporters then joined in shortly afterwards after Darwin Nunez scored the game-clinching second goal, leading to a singalong featuring the entire stadium. Every little thing was indeed all right for the Reds on Wednesday.
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