Jesse Marsch takes his Leeds United side to Anfield to take on Liverpool on Saturday – and on Wednesday night, he will have been hoping for an Ajax win. But Marsch will have been frustrated, especially in the first 45, as Liverpool won 3-0.
The American gaffer is under enormous pressure. Eight games without a win, taking two points in that time. Leeds sit in the relegation zone and while the board are keeping faith with Marsch – a heavy defeat to Liverpool could boil over.
It could see fans become so fed up that the board decide to take action. US pundit ex-USMNT star Alexi Lalas says that Marsch might be in his final week as Leeds manager. So, Wednesday night might have been crucial for Marsch.
Liverpool lost to Nottingham Forest at the City Ground last time out, and a second successive loss would have drained any confidence the Liverpool players had. Ajax started well, and should have taken the lead – scoring more than once.
Brian Brobbey terrorised the Liverpool back line early on. His lay-off to Steven Berghuis somehow saw the attacker hit the post, when it was easier to score. Ajax skipper Dusan Tadic also had a glorious chance to score at 0-0.
Marsch will have been frustrated as Liverpool win 3-0 against Ajax
It would have encouraged Marsch that Ajax were going to succumb Liverpool to another defeat. A loss that would have seen the Liverpool players go into Saturday evening lacking in confidence, worried of a third straight loss.
But that hope will have turned to frustration, and what could have been – when Mo Salah scored. With Ajax looking as though they would go into the break at 0-0, Remko Pasveer misjudged a Jordan Henderson pass into Salah.
The 38-year-old goalkeeper came sprinting out to close Salah down, and he simply chipped the ball into the net. It gave Liverpool the win, in that moment. The perfect time to score. Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliott made it 3-0.
If Ajax had taken their chances, or gone into the break at 0-0, there might have been a chance for an Ajax win. But Marsch’s hope that Liverpool would lose on Wednesday; dashed. He will have been frustrated watching the first half.
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