Liverpool came through their first game without Virgil van Dijk unscathed as Nicolas Tagliafico’s own goal gave them a 1-0 Champions League win at Ajax.
Tagliafico stumbled onto Sadio Mane’s mis-hit shot to divert it beyond Andre Onana 10 minutes before half-time in what would prove the only goal of the game in an open match at the Johann Cruyff Arena.
Liverpool kept a welcome clean sheet despite the absence their talismanic defender, with stand-in centre back Fabinho proving a more than adequate replacement at the back, denying Dusan Tadic on the line with an acrobatic clearance before the break.
Ex-Everton midfielder Davy Klaassen nearly haunted his former rivals two minutes into the second period but was denied by the foot of the post with Adrian beaten, while the Liverpool goalkeeper also made important saves in either half from Quincy Promes.
But Liverpool defended their box stoutly for the most part on a night as they successfully came through their first test without the world’s second-most expensive defender in their ranks.
