Ajax vs Rangers LIVE: Champions League result, final score and reaction as Ajax notch comfortable win

It has been a long wait for Rangers to get back in the Champions League and tonight they’ll play a group stage match in Europe’s top competition for the first time in 12 years when they travel to Amsterdam to face Ajax.

Last season, Rangers went on a magical run through the Europa League with famous victories over Borussia Dortmund, Braga and RB Leipzig en route to the final where they were pipped in a penalty shootout by Eintracht Frankfurt. Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side maintained that momentum during this summer’s Champions League qualifiers seeing off Union Saint-Gilloise and PSV to reach the pool phase for the first time since 2010 and they’ll be dreaming of another European run this season especially as they head into the match off the back of a disheartening 4-0 Old Firm defeat to rivals Celtic last weekend.

Their opponents this evening are the Erevidisie champions Ajax who enter the Champions League group stage for the fifth consecutive season. The Dutch side looks considerably different to the one that reached the round of 16 last term, as coach Erik ten Hag has left to manage Manchester United taking star players such as Lisandro Martinez and Antony with him. Yet, they have five wins from five in their domestic league this season and they know that defeating Rangers at home is a must if they want to secure knockout qualification in a group that also includes Liverpool and Napoli.

Follow all the action as Ajax host Rangers in the Champions League:

Ajax vs Rangers

• 80’ - GOAL! Bergwijn adds a fourth for the hosts (AJX 4-0 RAN)

• 33’ - GOAL! Wonderful Kudus finish deepens Rangers woe (AJX 3-0 RAN)

• 32’ - GOAL! Berghuis doubles Ajax lead with deflected goal (AJX 2-0 RAN)

• 17’ - GOAL! Alvarez heads Ajax in front from a corner (AJX 1-0 RAN)

• Rangers in Champions League for first time in 12 years

• Scottish side beat Union Saint-Gilloise and PSV Eindhoven in qualifiers to reach group stage

AFC Ajax 4 - 0 Rangers FC

Napoli vs Liverpool

19:37 , Michael Jones

Rangers have suffered back-to-back 4-0 defeats in their last two matches and their Champions League campaign is off to the worst start possible.

Reaction from Rangers’ defeat still to come but the focus moves to Italy as Liverpool prepare to take on Napoli in their opening European fixture.

Full-time: Ajax 4-0 Rangers

19:35 , Michael Jones

90+3 mins: It’s been a shocking and hurtful return to the Champions League for Rangers. They’ve been played off the park by Ajax with the Dutch champions putting them to the sword on an incredibly one-sided night in Amsterdam.

The Scottish side need to regroup and refocus ahead of their next group match against Napoli. The games comes thick and fast this year and another defeat there will surely put their hopes of a spot in the knockouts out of reach.

Ajax 4-0 Rangers

19:32 , Michael Jones

90 mins: Three minutes of added time to play in Amsterdam. Rangers just want to get off the pitch now.

Ajax 4-0 Rangers

19:28 , Michael Jones

86 mins: Steven Bergwijn injured himself during his goal, he seemed to stretch too far taking the ball around the goalkeeper and pulled his celebration up short clutching his leg.

The forward is taken off with Lucas Ocampos brought on the take his place.

He is fed into the box by Taylor and drives a shot straight into the hands of McLaughlin.

Ajax 4-0 Rangers

19:26 , Michael Jones

83 mins: Rangers have conceded eight goals in two games now. Giovanni van Bronckhorst has some defensive issues to solve before their next Champions League fixture against Napoli.

If he doesn’t solve it then Rangers are staring down five very tricky fixtures.

GOAL! Ajax 4-0 Rangers (80’, Bergwijn)⚽️

19:21 , Michael Jones

80 mins: There’s his goal! It’s a shocker from Ryan Jack who misplaces a pass back to his defensive line and gives it to Steven Bergwijn who is hovering in space.

Bergwijn taps it around McLaughlin who sprints off his line then guides the ball into the open net.

Ajax 3-0 Rangers

19:20 , Michael Jones

76 mins: The disallowed goal has just made Ajax slightly more wary. They’re not giving Rangers any chance of taking the ball off them until they’re deep in the final third.

NO GOAL! Ajax 3-0 Rangers

19:15 , Michael Jones

72 mins:The goal is chalked off! VAR took a look at the goal and saw that Ryan Kent was slightly offside as John Lundstram’s long ball came over the top.

Rangers’ bad night continues.

GOAL! Ajax 3-1 Rangers (71’, Barisic)⚽️

19:14 , Michael Jones

71 mins: Glorious finish! Rangers fizz a long diagonal ball over to Ryan Kent on the left wing and he carries the ball into the left side of the penalty area.

Two Ajax defenders close him down but he prods the ball to Borna Barisic who takes a touch and curls a lovely right-footed effort into the far top corner.

Ajax 3-0 Rangers

19:11 , Michael Jones

69 mins: Steven Bergwijn receives the ball on the left side of the pitch and brings it inside before lacing a shot straight into the arms of Jon McLaughlin.

The former Tottenham man is hungry for a goal tonight.

Ajax 3-0 Rangers

19:09 , Michael Jones

66 mins: Ryan Jack collects the first yellow card of the game after he slides in late and takes the legs out from under Ajax skipper Dusan Tadic.

At the other end of the pitch Rabbi Matondo swings a cross into the middle and Ryan Kent has a chance to poke one at goal. He’s under pressure from Jurrien Timber but manages to get a touch on the ball.

Saldy for Rangers the effort goes wide.

Ajax 3-0 Rangers

19:07 , Michael Jones

63 mins: Ajax are up over 76% possession. It’s been a very one-sided game and now the home players are putting on a bit of a show for their fans.

Close! Mohammed Kudus shimmies and dribbles his way through the Rangers defence. McLaughlin closes him down and blocks the shot from close range before Leon King boots the ball away.

Ajax 3-0 Rangers

19:03 , Michael Jones

60 mins: Ajax win a corner that Tadic slides into Kenneth Taylor. He swings a cross into the middle of the box but Rangers head it clear.

John Lundstram has dropped back as a third centre-half and Leon King has taken over from James Tavernier wide on the right of the Rangers defence.

Ajax 3-0 Rangers

19:01 , Michael Jones

57 mins: Steven Bergwijn bombs down the left wing and brings the ball inside before laying it off to Kudus. Ajax look as though they want to flood the box but Kudus sends the ball back and they retreat.

Ajax 3-0 Rangers

18:58 , Michael Jones

54 mins: Borna Barisic swings another Rangers free kick into the penalty area and finds James Sands who seems determined to make up for his earlier deflection.

His header loops towards goal and drops safely into the hands of Remko Pasveer. The whistle then goes for a foul in the build up and Ajax have a free kick of their own.

Ajax 3-0 Rangers

18:56 , Michael Jones

51 mins: Rangers are already seeing more of the ball but Ajax’s tempo has slowed way down. They’re content to kept hold of the ball and knock it around into space.

Ajax 3-0 Rangers

18:51 , Michael Jones

48 mins: Rabbi Matondo gets stuck in straight away and wins a free kick over on the right side of the pitch, inside Ajax’s half. Borna Barisic floats the set piece into the middle and finds James Sands who’s difficult headed effort glances wide of goal.

Second half: Ajax 3-0 Rangers

18:50 , Michael Jones

Kick off: The home side get the match back underway. Giovanni van Bronckhorst has made three changes at half-time. James Tavernier, Scott Wright and Malik Tillman are all hooked with Ryan Jack, Rabbi Matondo and Leon King all brought on.

Napoli vs Liverpool line-ups

18:46 , Michael Jones

Napoli XI: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Kim, Rrahmani, Olivera, Politano, Lobotka, Zambo Anguissa, Kvaratshhelia, Zielinski, Osimhen

Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson, Milner, Fabinho, Elliott, Salah, Firmino, Diaz

HT Ajax 3-0 Rangers

18:41 , Michael Jones

One way traffic in Amsterdam as Ajax have romped into a three goal lead against Rangers. Will they add to their tally in the second half?

Liverpool begin ‘proper, proper challenge’ on European trip with unhappy memories

18:35 , Michael Jones

“Where’s it next season? Istanbul? Book the hotel.” Jurgen Klopp’s response to defeat in May’s Champions League final may have done wonders for Turkey’s tourism industry but it also showed much about his psychology. Klopp tends to turn a negative into a positive. In the process, he can feel prophetic.

The morning after his previous Champions League final loss to Real Madrid, in 2018, he wondered at Kyiv airport if Liverpool would return to such a stage 12 months later. They duly did, winning in 2019. Liverpool can now hope history repeats itself again, that a brush with glory one year will be followed by an embrace the next.

Klopp can excel at engendering optimism but there were few reasons for happiness on an awful night in Paris. Certainly not for the supporters who were mistreated by French police, whose failings were compounded by Uefa’s, and for whom Wednesday’s trip to Naples, with its own reputation for intimidation, scarcely represented an ideal return to Europe.

On the field, Liverpool could have other reasons for regret: in 2018, they plotted a highly entertaining path around Europe, scoring goals galore but, as they finished 25 points behind Manchester City, they were not the continent’s outstanding team. They entered the final as underdogs.

Liverpool begin ‘proper, proper challenge’ on European trip with unhappy memories

Half-time: Ajax 3-0 Rangers

18:31 , Michael Jones

That’s been a bruising first 45 minutes for Rangers on their return to the Champions League. They offered very little resistance to a rampant Ajax side who took several chances and could have had more.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst needs to changes things for the second half. Personnel, formation, whatever but Rangers need to start getting time on the ball or this will turn into a drubbing.

Ajax 3-0 Rangers

18:29 , Michael Jones

43 mins: Save! Taylor drives into the box from the left and pokes the ball to Bergwijn. He’s tackled but the ball comes loose to Tadic who fizzes a first time shot at goal and forces another two-handed stop out of Jon McLaughlin.

Ajax 3-0 Rangers

18:26 , Michael Jones

40 mins: Save! Kenneth Taylor has a shy from range and forces Jon McLaughlin into a diving stop to his left.

He palms the ball away only as far as Dusan Tadic who flicks the ball over to the back post but Steven Bergwijn can’t get around James Tavernier and somehow Rangers work it away.

Ajax 3-0 Rangers

18:24 , Michael Jones

37 mins: Rangers have been rocked in Amsterdam already. Ajax look several classes above them in quality and confidence this evening.

The visitors put together a half-hearted attack down the right side but Bassey is quickly over to the ball and manages to guide it out for a goal kick.

GOAL! Ajax 3-0 Rangers (34’, Kudus)⚽️

18:20 , Michael Jones

33 mins: It’s three! What a strike this one is. Calvin Bassey – the former Rangers man – slides a pass up to Mohammed Kudus who is closed down by James Tavernier.

Kudus holds the ball away from Tavernier before turning around the defender and driving into the left side of the box.

It looks as though Conner Goldson is coming across to cover but Kudus blasts an effort to the far side of the goal where the ball hits the inside of the post and rebounds over the line!

GOAL! Ajax 2-0 Rangers (32’, Berghuis)⚽️

18:17 , Michael Jones

32 mins: Ajax double their lead!

This is unfortunate for Rangers. Mohammed Kudus messes around with the ball just outside the Rangers box but scuffs it over to Steven Berghius.

He knocks the ball into the box then side-foots an effort at goal. The shot hits James Sands and deflects past Jon McLaughlin to finish in the back of the net.

Ajax 1-0 Rangers

18:16 , Michael Jones

31 mins: Tillman is muscled off the ball and Ajax sweep up the pitch once more. Bergwijn slots it across to Tadic who holds onto the ball too long before deciding to shoot.

When he finally takes the shot, Barisic is able to charge him down and get the block in.

Ajax 1-0 Rangers

18:14 , Michael Jones

29 mins: Scott Wright and John Lundstram are getting played out of the game, Ajax are moving it past them with real ease.

Rensch makes another late run into the box and plays a great one-two to take him to the edge of the six-yard area. He just has McLaughlin to beat with the Rangers defenders left scrambling but he guides his effort wide of the far post.

Ajax 1-0 Rangers

18:11 , Michael Jones

26 mins: Ajax are all over Rangers.

Bergwijn, Kudus, and Tadic are all operating with freedom inside and around the Rangers box. The home side seem quicker, sharper and more confident on the ball.

It could be a long night for Rangers.

Ajax 1-0 Rangers

18:09 , Michael Jones

23 mins: Close! Daley Blind provides a wide option with a fine run down the left wing. He squares the ball into the middle of the box and finds Bergwijn who shifts it over to Tadic.

Tadic returns the ball with a pass into the six-yard box but Bergwijn is shoved off line by Goldson and McLaughlin can scoop up the loose ball.

Ajax 1-0 Rangers

18:07 , Michael Jones

20 mins: Rangers have work to do now. They need to get back to the early pressure they were putting on the ball. It’s tricky though as Ajax are confidently and slickly passing it around the pitch.

Kudus weaves his way to the front of the box before slipping the ball ot Tadic. He waits for Devyne Rensch’s run in behind and gives him the ball. The Ajax defender drills a shot at goal but McLaughlin turns it wide at the near post!

GOAL! Ajax 1-0 Rangers (17’, Alvarez)⚽️

18:02 , Michael Jones

17 mins: Ajax take the lead! The home side were starting to take control of the game and now they’ve taken the lead.

Ajax win a corner that gets delivered beautifully into the middle of the box. Edson Alvarez makes a short but decisive diagonal run into the box from the left side and leaps towards the ball.

He meets it perfectly and guides the header into the bottom left corner. No chance for Jon McLaughlin to stop it.

Ajax 0-0 Rangers

18:01 , Michael Jones

15 mins: Tadic dribbles into the box from the right side and goes around Borna Barisic on his way into the penalty area. He manages to pull the ball back to the edge of the box where Edson Alvarez is free.

Alvarez thinks about shooting but Rangers close him down quickly and work the ball clear. Ajax are starting to take control of this match.

Ajax 0-0 Rangers

17:59 , Michael Jones

12 mins: Shot! Steven Bergwijn is causing a few problems on the left hand side. He receives a pass and drives down the wing before cutting inside.

The Rangers defenders drop off him opening up half a yard of space that Bergwijn comes in to before hooking a shot wide of the near post.

Ajax 0-0 Rangers

17:57 , Michael Jones

9 mins: Close! Ajax win a corner that Steven Bergwijn rolls short to Dusan Tadic. Tadic swings a first time cross into the box and perfectly finds Jurrien Timber whose headed effort flies over the crossbar.

Ajax 0-0 Rangers

17:52 , Michael Jones

6 mins: A long ball up the pitch from Jon McLaughlin is targetted at Connor Goldson but the Rangers’ man is taken out by the stray arm of Mohammed Kudus and the visitors win a free kick.

This has been a decent start from Rangers. They don’t look overawed by the occasion or the opponents and are getting stuck into the game.

Ajax 0-0 Rangers

17:49 , Michael Jones

3 mins: Connor Goldson fires the ball over to Ryan Kent who nods it up the pitch to Malik Tillman who’s made his way into the box. He holds the ball up well enough but cant create sace for a shot and Rangers are forced to retreat as Ajax’s defenders sworn the forward.

Kick off: Ajax 0-0 Rangers

17:47 , Michael Jones

Rangers kick off their first Champions League match in 12 years. This is a huge night for the Scottish side and if they can get a result against Ajax it will put them in a strong position to attack the rest of the group.

Ajax vs Rangers

17:43 , Michael Jones

Rangers are back in the Champions League.

Schreuder on Rangers

17:40 , Michael Jones

Ajax head coach Alfred Schreuder spoke about Rangers saying: "It is a new challenge for us. We have been analysing their games - they press high and try to play. You can see the hand of their coach on how they play.

"They are a very competitive team, they will try and press us in the beginning. We know Gio very well. You look at his style of coaching and I don’t think we have many big surprises coming. We are very well prepared."

Rangers’ star man

17:35 , Michael Jones

Excluding qualifiers, Rangers’ James Tavernier has scored seven goals in his last nine appearances in major European competition.

He was the Ibrox club’s top scorer in their Europa League campaign last season.

"As a squad, win, draw, lose, we all look back on how we can improve. This was the same.” he said after defeat to Celtic at the weekend.

"We openly speak, and the staff and the boss put the points across. It’s something we always go through no matter what the scoreline and we know it’s something we need to put right."

Van Bronckhorst’s Champions League record

17:30 , Michael Jones

During his spell as Feyenoord manager, Giovanni van Bronckhorst won just two of his 10 meetings with Ajax in all competitions - two draws, six defeats - losing all four of his visits to the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Van Bronckhorst lost five of his six games Champions League games with Feyenoord in 2017/18, the exception being a 2-1 win against Napoli.

Kvaratskhelia a ‘huge threat'

17:26 , Michael Jones

Former Napoli and Liverpool boss Rafa Benítez has identified 21-year-old Georgian forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as a "huge threat" to the Reds’ hopes of making a winning start to their Group A campaign.

Writing in his column for The Times, Benítez says he has been told by friends in Italy that the youngster is currently the "best player" in Serie A.

The forward has four goals and one assist in five Serie A appearances this season.

Alisson on Arthur

17:20 , Michael Jones

Arthur Melo may make his Champions League debut for Liverpool tonight and all the talk coming from the Reds’ camp is that he is set to play a role against Napoli this evening.

Alisson Becker, Liverpool’s number one goalkeeper, spoke about having Arthur in the squad saying: “He is a good friend of mine. I played with him for the national team: we won the Copa América back in 2019.

“He brings even more quality to our team and he likes to play the way we play. I’m sure with the team helping him he will adapt really quickly.”

Celtic and Rangers set to provide sorely needed emotional centre to Champions League group stage

17:14 , Michael Jones

Over the last few days, Ange Postecoglou has been drilling his players in a typically expansive gameplan, but it has all come with a new electricity. Tuesday night won’t just be a case of Celtic playing their normal game and refusing to change for anybody. It will instead be a night when the unique atmosphere fits with the usual approach, amplifying it, and they will just go with the mood of adventure.

You only have to walk around Glasgow this week to get a sense of what the Champions League is supposed to be about. The city that staged one of the old European Cup’s first truly mythical finals, when Real Madrid beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 at Hampden Park in 1960, now awaits the return of the 14-time champions with a rare excitement. Across the city, the Rangers players have been playing the Champions League theme on their phones as they head to Ajax, but that’s really all in anticipation of it booming around Ibrox for the visit of Napoli next Tuesday.

This is what the competition is supposed to feel like. One of the Champions League’s first cities, rather appropriately, is this group stage’s emotional centre.

Celtic and Rangers set to provide emotional centre to Champions League group stage

Rangers’ Champions League record

17:08 , Michael Jones

Rangers have won just 19% of their Champions League games (12/62) which is the second lowest win rate of any side to have played at least 50 games - Anderlecht are bottom at just 17%.

This is their first appearance since the 2010/11 campaign.

They have progressed past the group stage in just one of their 10 previous attempts (2005/06). However, they’re unbeaten in their first group game in each of their last six campaigns with four wins and two draws.

Ajax vs Rangers

17:01 , Michael Jones

Rangers have won their last two games in the Netherlands, including a 1-0 win at PSV to qualify for the group stage.

They had won just two of their previous nine before that with two draws and five defeats.

Ajax won all six of Champions League group stage matches last term, having been knocked out at this stage in the two campaigns prior to that.

They netted 20 goals in their group games last season, their most ever.

Jurgen Klopp hopes for fourth time lucky as Liverpool travel to Napoli

16:55 , Michael Jones

Jurgen Klopp hopes it will be fourth time lucky as the Liverpool manager looks to finally win at Napoli when last season’s Champions League finalists kick-off their quest for continental glory on Wednesday.

It is just over three months since the Reds suffered a gutting 1-0 defeat in the final to Real Madrid on a night marred by chaotic scenes outside the Stade de France.

Liverpool have been drawn alongside Ajax, Rangers and Napoli this time around and get Group A under way at the cavernous Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday evening against the latter.

But Klopp has not enjoyed the best of times on his previous visits to Naples, having lost 2-1 with Borussia Dortmund in 2013 before losing 1-0 with the Reds in 2018 and 2-0 the following year.

Jurgen Klopp hopes for fourth time lucky as Liverpool travel to Napoli

Napoli vs Liverpool

16:48 , Michael Jones

Liverpool won all six away games in the Champions League last season. A seventh consecutive victory on the road in Naples would set a new club record in European competition.

Ajax vs Rangers

16:42 , Michael Jones

Ajax have won all four of their previous meetings with Rangers, winning both legs of the European Super Cup in January 1973, and both group stage meetings in the 1996/97 Champions League.

Rangers’ four defeats from four against Ajax is their worst 100% losing record in all European competition. Besiktas (6/6) are the only team that Ajax have a better 100% winning record against.

Ajax vs Rangers line-ups

16:32 , Michael Jones

Ajax XI: Pasveer, Rensch, J Timber, Bassey, Blind, Taylor, Alvarez, Berghuis, Tadic, Kudus, Bergwijn

Rangers XI: McLaughlin, Tavernier, Goldson, Sands, Barisic, Wright, Lundstram, Tillman, Kamara, Kent, Colak

A danger sign for Rangers?

16:27 , Michael Jones

Ajax have won their opening match in three of their last four Champions League campaigns with all three victories coming by at least a three-goal margin.

Will Rangers suffer a similar fate tonight?

Klopp on Liverpool’s injuries

16:23 , Michael Jones

"Arthur [Melo] just needs football now, training especially, that’s how it is," said Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp ahead of their Champions League opener with Napoli.

"Can he play minutes? Yes. Should he play a full game? No, because he needs to get used to the intensity in each competition.

"It’s not like the Champions League is like you have to work less than the Premier League. He’s doing well, he’s really giving his absolute all in training. We have to be careful with him as well and then we will see when we can use him.

"Thiago is back in training. It means he is ready. For how long we will see. Hendo, we had the results of the scan and it will be after the international break, I think, he will be back."

Napoli vs Liverpool early team news

16:16 , Michael Jones

Liverpool will be without injured captain Jordan Henderson for their opening Champions League Group A trip to Napoli on Wednesday as their midfield options continue to dwindle.

Fabio Carvalho, Curtis Jones, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are also unavailable for the Reds so new signing Arthur Melo is expected to feature.

There is positive news though as Thiago Alcantara is set to make his first appearance for a month after recovering from an injury of his own.

For Napoli winger Hirving Lozano and forward Victor Osimhen could be available after returning to training which will give the home side a strengthened attacking edge.

Van Bronckhorst backing McLaughlin

16:09 , Michael Jones

Rangers manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst has hinted that he will stick with goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin against Ajax this evening despite criticism in the goalkeeper following Rangers’ bruising 4-0 Old Firm defeat at the weekend.

"Many things went wrong," said the Rangers boss, "So I could change everything from Saturday and play with a different team, different tactics. But I think you have to keep hold of your way of playing.

"You keep trusting your players and give them confidence because in the past we have bounced back from heavy defeats and that’s what we have to do tomorrow as well."

He added: "I’ve spoken with Jon and I’ve spoken with the team about how we played, the way we conceded goals and how we need to improve, what went wrong.

"It’s a normal process. You cannot change every time you have a defeat. You cannot change everything because you have to stick to your beliefs and your way of playing.

"The execution we had on Saturday was below par - far below par. That’s what I want to see different."

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst confident in rattled Rangers squad ahead of Ajax tie

16:03 , Michael Jones

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst backed his rattled Rangers squad ahead of their opening Champions League Group A fixture against Ajax on Wednesday night.

There was some criticism when the Gers boss did not add to his group in the latter stages of the transfer window, after bringing in seven players earlier and that surfaced again at the weekend following their trouncing by Celtic.

A horror show at Parkhead saw the Light Blues lose 4-0 to leave them trailing the champions by five points at the top of the cinch Premiership after only six fixtures.

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst confident in rattled Rangers squad ahead of Ajax tie

Rangers early team news

15:55 , Michael Jones

Forward Alfredo Morelos is in contention for Rangers after coming on as a substitute in Saturday’s Old Firm defeat to Celtic but Tom Lawrence, John Souttar, Kemar Roofe, Filip Helander and Ianis Hagi remain unavailable for the Scottish side.

Ajax vs Rangers

15:35 , Michael Jones

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Champions League action.

First up, Rangers return to the top tier of European football for the first time in 12 years as they travel to Amsterdam to take on the Eredivisie champions Ajax. The Scottish side needed to make their way through the qualifying rounds to reach this stage after they lost the 2021/22 Europa League final to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s men defeated Union Saint-Gilloise and PSV Eindhoven to make it into the Champions League but they face a very difficult time of things in a group that also includes Napoli and Liverpool.

Those two teams go head-to-head with each other later on tonight with the Reds looking to get off to a winning start. Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool have lost both matches at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium as well as being held to a 1-1 draw with the Italian side at Anfield back in 2019.

Will it be fourth time lucky for the Reds?