Liverpool v Ajax: Champions League predictions, free tips and TV details

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Liverpool v Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 2, 8pm Tuesday

Best bet

Ajax or draw double chance
2pts 6-5 Betway, BoyleSports, Hills

Team news

Liverpool
James Milner (hamstring) has joined Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago Alcantara, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joe Gomez and Xherdan Shaqiri on the sidelines. Nat Phillips is not in the Champions League squad but Joel Matip should return after being rested at Brighton.

Ajax
Antony has recovered from a hamstring injury but Daley Blind (hamstring) has joined Mohammed Kudus (knee) on the sidelines.

Match preview

Liverpool are leading Champions League Group D and level on points with Tottenham at the top of the Premier League, but Jurgen Klopp's tetchy post-match interview after Saturday's 1-1 draw at Brighton suggests all is not well with the Reds and their problems could increase with a poor result against Ajax.

Despite needing only a draw against Ajax to qualify for the knockout stage, Klopp's injury-hit side are odds-on to gather maximum points.

But they had to work hard for their 1-0 success in Amsterdam on matchday one and they are without three players who started that game - Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and James Milner - due to injuries.

Klopp had a tricky balancing act on Saturday as he juggled the needs of protecting key players and putting out a strong enough team to win the game.

But he came up short on both counts due to Milner's second-half hamstring strain and Pascal Gross's injury-time penalty which earned the Seagulls a richly deserved point.

Milner was switched to right-back from the start of the second half after Klopp made the tactical decision to withdraw 19-year-old defender Neco Williams.

But Klopp will probably have to persist with Williams in the starting line-up and must make a change at centre-back because Nat Phillips, who had a decent game at the Amex, is not part of the Champions League squad.

The rested Joel Matip is set to return and his presence and experience will be key to coping with a confident Ajax side who are top of the Eredivisie with 27 points and 42 goals from ten matches.

Ajax responded to their loss to Liverpool by gathering seven points from their next three games, leaving them two points behind the Reds and above Atalanta on goal difference.

Whatever happens on Merseyside Erik ten Hag's side will have a shot at qualification when hosting Atalanta on matchday six, but they are taking on Liverpool at a good time and will not want to waste the opportunity.

Ajax must make a change in defence with veteran centre-back Daley Blind ruled out with a hamstring strain although his probable replacement, 22-year-old Argentinian Lisandro Martinez, is an emerging talent who played the full game against Liverpool in October.

Overall, Ajax's squad looks far healthier and settled than Liverpool's and there is a strong value case for backing them to take at least a point.

Key stat

Ajax are unbeaten in their last eight matches.

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