Ajax vs Liverpool: Can visitors recover and secure knockout berth

Topics: TV Schedules, TV Listings, Ajax, Liverpool, UEFA Champions League

Liverpool will aim to get back to winning ways after a setback in their last match and potentially secure a spot in the round of 16 in this season's Champions League.

With Napoli having surprised everyone by racing into an early lead to top Group A, Liverpool will look to join the Partenopei in the round of 16 by beating Ajax on Wednesday evening. Jurgen Klopp's men were on the wrong end of a 1-0 scoreline as the Reds suffered another setback in the Premier League by losing to Nottingham Forest, which was a truly disappointing outcome considering they had seemingly had a upturn in results following two wins over Manchester City and West Ham recently.

Injuries continue to be an issue for the Reds, who were missing new signing Darwin Nunez as well as Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota for that match, and none of the aforementioned players will be available for this game today. Still, Liverpool's mission is quite simple - if they can avoid losing to Ajax, they will secure a round of 16 berth in this season's Champions League.

Still, Liverpool will be aiming to do more than just squeak into the round of 16. A win for them, combined with a negative result for Napoli will help them pull level on points, setting up an interesting clash on matchday six for who will ultimately win Group A. Of course, that match, which will have revenge also on the agenda for Liverpool, is sometime in the future, and for now, the main focus will be ensuring they put themselves in good position to secure a knockout round berth.

As for Ajax, the hosts have not impressed much in the Champions League, but are still going strong in their domestic adventures. However, they have yet to beat Liverpool in three prior meetings, and they also have a very poor track record against English teams, with just one win in their last eight home ties across all European competitions.

Team news: Ajax vs Liverpool

Ajax: Ahmetcan Kaplan, Devyne Rensch and Mohamed Ihattaren are all out injured, while Kenneth Taylor may miss out due to a muscular issue.

Liverpool: Joel Matip as well as Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota will all miss this match, but Darwin Nunez could return alongside Thiago Alcantara and Ibrahima Konate. However, although both Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita returned to training, this match comes too soon for either to be involved.

Match facts: Ajax vs Liverpool

Liverpool have never lost to Ajax, with three wins from their last three European meetings
In addition, the Reds are unbeaten in their last seven away ties against Dutch sides (W4 D3) as well as have kept a clean sheet in five of those ties
Ajax have won just one of their last eight home matches against English sides in Europe (D1 L6)