Joël Matip rescues Liverpool at the death against Ajax

Just when Liverpool desperately needed someone to rise to the occasion, Joël Matip did. Just when it looked like Liverpool were slumping to another disappointing result, Matip climbed high after 89 minutes to change the narrative and the mood. One header transformed the headlines.

And breathe. Shortly afterwards, the final whistle having confirmed victory, Jürgen Klopp stood in front of the Kop, put his hand over his heart, and exhaled extravagantly, signalling his relief. A draw would have been damaging to Liverpool’s Champions League ambitions, yet now they are on three points, recovering from their embarrassment away to Napoli, and will hope to impose themselves on Rangers home and away.

Liverpool were far from the whirlwind that blew away so many opponents over the past