Jurgen Klopp's Reds blew Ajax away with an impressive second-half performance in the Champions League as they thrashed the Eredivise giants 3-0 in Amsterdam.
Manager Jurgen Klopp admits that their 3-0 victory over Eredivisie giants Ajax has given Liverpool side 'a lift'.
The Merseyside club put their Premier League woes behind them as they bounced back to winning ways at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Wednesday night.
Liverpool came into the clash knowing that a point would be enough to seal their position in the knockout stages of Europe's elite competition, while Ajax needed a win to stay in the tournament.
With that in mind, the Reds were lucky not to have conceded in the opening minutes as Steven Berghuis's close-range strike rattled the post.
The hosts certainly were the better side at the start as they had better chances, but failed to get the better of goalkeeper Alisson Becker, and a few minutes before half-time Mohamed Salah did what he knows how to do best, clipping the ball into the net to make it 1-0.
Liverpool could have had a second just minutes later, but summer signing Darwin Nunez's shot hit the post.
Four minutes into the second half, the 23-year-old Uruguay international made amends when he nodded in left-back Andy Robertson's corner-kick.
And in the 54th minute, Harvey Elliot fired high into the roof of the net to make it 3-0, ensuring Liverpool secured all three points and qualified for the next round of the campaign.
Liverpool have now advanced from the group stage to the last 16 in all six of their Champions League campaigns under Klopp, and the German expressed his joy at the result while speaking to BT Sport.
'Tonight we all feel great.'
"They had a top half an hour from a specific moment where they created a lot of pressure and did really well and we had to defend with a lot of passion," Klopp said.
"We scored a goal which was exceptional. In the second half, we had a really good start and controlled the game from then on.
"We changed the system again a little bit, we had to. We thought it would make sense. Ajax are a good football team and full of confidence always and you have to adjust. We did that and were fine.
"It is clear. We are through to the knockouts, and I will never take that for granted. Really helpful for the club, of course, it gives the lift. Tonight we all feel great, and we have a few days to prepare for Leeds."
When quizzed about striker Nunez's all-round display, Klopp answered: "I think even he was surprised! [when Firmino passed for the shot on the woodwork]. He had a really good game in both directions, helped to defend, and played with a big heart today so hopefully, we took him off early enough!
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