Matip spares wasteful Nunez: Liverpool winners, losers and ratings as defender scores late winner against Ajax

Not Mohamed Salah. Not Diogo Jota. Not Luis Diaz. Not Darwin Nunez.

No, the Reds got their Champions League campaign up and running with a clutch winner from centre-back Joel Matip on Tuesday night.

The defender rose highest to head home Kostas Tsimikas’ corner, sparking joyous scenes as Jurgen Klopp’s side put the misery of last week’s abject defeat to Napoli behind them.

In the process, Matip spared Nunez from harsh post-match reactions. The substitute striker failed to take a gilt-edged opportunity late on, dragging wide from Salah’s pass, as an uneven start to his Anfield tenure stumbled on.

Salah had earlier netted Liverpool's opener only for Mohammed Kudus to lash an equaliser past Alisson.

The win means Liverpool move level with Ajax on three points from two games in Group A, and they are next in action on October 4, when they welcome Rangers to Anfield.