Liverpool 2-1 Ajax, Bayern Munich 2-0 Barcelona: Champions League – as it happened

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Klopp speaks!

Righto, our report are in, which means I’m out. Thanks all for your company and comments – sorry I couldn’t use them all. Peace.

On BT, they’re having at Alexander-Arnold for letting Alvarez run off him, but Rio Ferdinand points out that when he played, he told his full-back to go to the ball and he’d cover the space in behind, saying “If I’m not there you can shout at me.” He’s not sure Matip has volunteered to do that, so he is also culpable.

Tell you what, I properly enjoyed both of those games. Given I too am getting older and more jaded, I feel I can believe myself when I say I’ve seen a load of proper good contests already this season – in the Premier League, but also around and in Europe.

“Re: when Liverpool were at their best,” tweets Kevin Smallman, “their win against Man City when they were nowhere near winning the League. With Loris Karius in goal! Klopp’s managed them brilliantly since, but they haven’t actually played better than that.”

They’ve played brilliantly too, but not – in mine – as well as often.

Looking at the tables, Napoli will go clear on six at the top of Group A if they can win in Glasgow tomorrow night. That’ll put them in a very strong position; Liverpool and Ajax have three apiece, but as below, if any of those drop points against Rangers, it’ll cost them qualification. If not, I’ve not a clue who qualifies.

Brugge, meanwhile, are clear at the top of Group B, with Leverkusen and Atlético on three and Porto on none; Bayern have beaten Inter and Barca, so are almost through already – they almost definitely will be by the time they’ve beaten Plzen twice in their next two games, meaning the double-header between the other two will probably decide which team joins them.

Otherwise, Sporting lead Group d with six; Spurs and Eintracht have three, Marseille none.

Tonight’s classified football results (read by your James Alexander Gordon internal voice)

Champions League Group A

Liverpool 2-1 Ajax Amsterdam

Champions League Group B

Porto 0-4 Club Brugge

Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Atlético de Madrid

Champions League Group C

Bayern Munich 2-1 Barcelona

Viktoria Plzen 0-2 Internazionale

Champions League Group D

Sporting Clube de Portugal 2-0 Tottenham Hotspur

Marseille 0-1 Eintracht Frankfurt

“Yes, the best period for this Liverrpol team was that period from the run-in of the 2018-19 season until the defeat to Watford,” reckons Patrick Crumlish. “Didn’t they only drop two points, at Old Trafford, in a run of over 30 league games? Won the Champions League and Club World Cup in that run, and clinched the league a few months later. Won’t recapture that.”

Those are roughly my thoughts, though i’d say they weren’t quite as good in 19-20 as they’d been in 18-19 – they won loads of games by the odd goal, which speaks volumes for the mentality monstrosity, but I don’t think they were as dominant through the 90s.

If Liverpool can beat Rangers twice – their double-header is coming up – they’ll be almost through. Unless, that is, everyone beats Rangers twice, in which case the mini-league with Ajax and Napoli will be tight as.

Full-time: Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Atlético Madrid

Good comeback from Leverkusen after losing to Brugge.

Updated at 17.00 EDT

Full-time: Marseille 0-1 Eintracht Frankfurt

With two defeats in two games, Marseille are almost gone.

Full-time: Liverpool 2-1 Ajax

Jurgen Klopp punches the air – he and his team needed that.

Full-time: Porto 0-4 Club Brugge

Now then.

How important this could be for Liverpool. They’ve played pretty well tonight, but had they drawn, they’d have been under big pressure to escape the group. They’re nearly there…

Full-time: Bayern Munich 2-0 Barcelona

That’s a brilliant win for Bayern, who were lucky to be in the game at half-time but upped it thereafter. Still, Barca are growing.

GOALS! Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 Atlético Madrid (Andrich 84, Diaby 87)

This group is going to be an almighty scrap.

GOAL! Porto 0-4 Club Brugge (Nusa 89)

Goodness me.

Brugge’s Antonio Nusa celebrates after scoring his side’s fourth goal. Photograph: Luis Vieira/AP

Updated at 16.59 EDT

GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Ajax (Matip 89)

They’ve done it again! Matip’s missed some serious chances tonight, but he’s been so dominant in the air it’s no surprise to see him win another, clattering a corner past Pasveer. A defender heads it out before it hits the net, but the decision review system confirms it crossed the line.

Joel Matip of Liverpool scores their second goal late on. Photograph: Marc Atkins/Getty Images Matip’s header crosses the line. Photograph: Paul Greenwood/REX/Shutterstock Joel Matip of Liverpool celebrates after scoring. Photograph: Matthew Ashton/AMA/2022 AMA Sports Photo Agency

Updated at 17.23 EDT

Nunez makes a terrific run in behind, down the left of the box, and diddles his man by checking back inside. He’s got options in the middle but opts to find Diaz at the far post … but Pasveer gets a little flick, taking away what’s otherwise an easy tap-in!

“While Liverpool are patently nowhere near their best,” emails David Reynolds, “I don’t think you can say they’ve been getting progressively worse over the last three years (if nothing else based on league standings in that time). That notwithstanding, they need investment in the middle of the park and I reckon Kloppo is building his third Liverpool team.”

As I said, they remained excellent, but the best this team played was three years ago – in my opinion, obviously – which means that they’ve been getting worse since then.

Here’s Liverpool’s chance! Matip finds Firmino who finds Salah, and he nips a square pass into Nunez, who need only use its pass to sweep inside the far post … but his connection isn’t true, and the ball bobbles wide!

Ajax send on Grillitsch for Taylor, looking to see out their draw and they look good for it. But with the firepower Liverpool have on the pitch and the belief they have in their hearts, that can change at any second.

“Except Van Dijk did his cruciate and came back and did rather well,” returns NS, “though naturally not at the absolute heights he had. That a team isn’t at the peak it was three years ago doesn’t mean its obituary should be read – there were bad patches before; the way the team is set up specifically risks it. Also, don’t mention Nas in the same paragraph as Bob Marley.”

Well that’s the point isn’t it? Van Dijk, and Liverpool, are still good, and I’ve not heard anyone say to the contrary. But though I’m not sure what you mean by writing obituaries, I don’t think it’s controversial to say they’re no longer as good as the best or their best, and to get that good again will probably take some money. Furthermore, both Nas and Bob Marley wrote about brilliantly about time, and many other things besides.

Eeeeeesh! Ajax do well to find Tadic, roaming down the right, and he picks out Blind at the back post, who has tiiiime to watch the flight of the ball and take aim. But looking for the far corner, he heads by far the best chance of the half – so far – wide.

Daley Blind of Ajax reacts after a missed chance. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Updated at 16.41 EDT

Goretzka has made a big difference to Bayern – he’s a much better player than Sabitzer, even in Sabitzer’s position.

Nunez chases Timber as he tries to see the ball out, then turns good pressure into silly behaviour, unable to resist committing the foul that allows Ajax to clear. He might not stick the nut on someone again, but he still needs educating in how to be sensible. Meantime, Liverpool win a corner which Matip meets well, but heads over the bar.

Berghaus sticks Kudus in behind but Alisson beats his shot away … then the flag goes up.

Ajax are pretty comfortable, and will, I’m sure, be happy with a draw. Liverpool v Man United for a Europa League spot, anyone?

Ajax send on Sanchez for Rensch while, in Munich, Gbary replaces Mané. Decent option.

In the repechage following a corner, Matip first eschews a shot when nicely set, then tees-up Van Dijk who does likewise. Eventually, the ball goes wide, and Matip heads a decent opportunity wide.

Jota misses a half-chance then is replaced by Nunez, while Firmino comes on for Elliott.

“…writing obituaries about a great team that’s going through a bad patch early in the season should be…” emails NS. “Actually no, it’s part of modern coverage at all types of papers these days, isn’t it? Carry on.”

Er no, it isn’t actually. I’ve seen Liverpool get progressively worse, whole still being very good, over the course of three seasons, and if you don’t think their best defender doing his cruciate at 29 has a lasting impact, likewise a physical style being tough to maintain, then you need to tell Bob Marley that when he said none of them can stop the time, he was wrong, as you do Nas that time is not, in fact, illmatic.

Goretzka has replaced Sabitzer and it was Torres who came on for Raphinha – De Jong took Gavi’s place.

Pedri, skipping inside and playing a one-two off Lewandowski, lifts over Neuer and against the post from eight yards. Barca have had proper chances tonight.

“The line from a pop song that popped into my head about Virgil van Dijk’s defending these days,” says Kári Tulinius , |was ‘but it’s just like he’s in another world, he doesn’t see the danger on show’.”

In Munich, De Jong has replaced Raphinha. 2-0 down, Bayern away, 29 to go – it’s his big chance.

Back at Anfield, Liverpool are huffing and puffing, which is to say Ajax look pretty comfy. Edson Alvarez looks a player … and as I type that, he’s booked for going through the back of Jota.

The way Mazraoui is playing, Pavard will struggle to get back in the Bayern side.

GOAL! Porto 0-3 Club Brugge (Olsen 52)

Brugge are going top of Group B!

Brugge’s Andreas Skov Olsen, left, celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal. Photograph: Luis Vieira/AP

Updated at 17.01 EDT