(Football news) Goals from Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Harvey Elliot helped Liverpool secure a 3-0 win over Ajax at the Amsterdam ArenA, propelling Jurgen Klopp’s side to the Champions League Round of 16. Ajax’s failure to be more clinical in front of goal cost them as Salah opened the scoring in the 42nd minute when the Egyptian latched onto Jordan Henderson’s pass from outside the boot, scoring his sixth goal in the competition in five games. Three minutes later, Ajax’s Steven Berghuis hit the post while Trent Alexander-Arnold blocked Dusan Tadic’s effort.

Liverpool, who got off to a slow start in Amsterdam eventually grew into the game and had the opportunity to go two goals up when Nunez hit the back post from Roberto Firmino’s pass. However, the Uruguayan made amends in the 49th minute, heading in from a corner and Harvey Elliot then scored Liverpool’s third in the 52nd minute, capitalising on a pass by Mohamed Salah. Jurgen Klopp made three changes to his team from the weekend with Darwin Nunez, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Jordan Henderson replacing Fabio Carvalho, James Milner and Curtis Jones. As for Ajax, the side featured the same starting XI from their last match against RKC Waalwijk.

Speaking to BT Sport, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said “We had a tough half an hour where Ajax made a lot of pressure and we needed to defend with a lot of passion. You have to get through these phases. We changed the system again a little bit to a diamond. We thought it made sense because we didn't want to have Darwin always on the wing. Then we scored a goal which was absolutely exceptional. Second half we really had a good start, scored two wonderful goals and then controlled the game really well. We are through to the knockout stages and I will never take that for granted.

"It's a big achievement in itself [qualifying]. Ajax are a really good team and we beat them twice. They looked much more settled than us. That's normal, it's an away game in the Champions League, it's difficult, we came through that. One situation where we were lucky, one where we had a good block. Then you can see the goal, how that can open everything. The goal was brilliant and the next situation was a sensational football moment. Unfortunately we hit the post there. Then we scored the two goals and controlled the game, which was really good." When asked about Nunez, Klopp said “Really good game, in both directions. He played with a big heart today and I like that a lot."

Also read: Chelsea progress to Round of 16 with win over Red Bull Salzburg