Ajax hero Rafael van der Vaart has ramped up tensions before Tuesday night’s clash with Liverpool - labelling a trio of Reds stars as “very normal”.
The two European heavyweights go head-to-head at Anfield after contrasting openings to their respective Champions League campaigns. Ajax kicked off Group A by thrashing Rangers 4-0 in Amsterdam, hours before Liverpool were humbled by Napoli.
Jurgen Klopp’s side, who have endured an inconsistent start to the new season, were taken apart by their Serie A opponents, losing 4-1. The Kop boss described the performance as the worst of his Anfield tenure and will be hoping for a quick response.
Defeat to the Dutch champions would leave last season’s finalists with a mountain to climb to top the group. Ajax arrive on Merseyside in brilliant form having won their previous seven in all competitions, scoring 26 times in the process.
And Van der Vaart believes his old side have a chance of victory, taking aim at Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Joe Gomez in the process. The former Spurs star also suggested that unless their attacking talents shine they are a “mediocre team”.
“I think we have become a bit blinded. We suddenly think Jordan Henderson is a crazy player. That's just a very normal player,” he told Dutch programme Rondo. "James Milner is also a very normal player. Joe Gomez is also a very normal player. Virgil van Dijk is top, the right back and left back are also good.
“But if things don't go well and those attackers don't have their day, then I think it's just a very mediocre team.”
However, Van der Vaart did claim that Ajax defenders wouldn’t be able to live with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz, if they hit their stride. Salah has struggled for form in the early weeks of the season, but should he rediscover it, he thinks the visitors have no chance of getting a result.
He added: “The only thing I'm afraid of at Ajax is: if Luis Díaz and Mohamed Salah do have their day, then we have a problem. Then Ajax will never win. Certainly not at Anfield, I don't think Daley Blind and Devyne Rensch are good enough for that.”
Liverpool boss Klopp has moved to quash talks of their desire for an immediate response, feeling it would give Ajax extra motivation to pick up a memorable result.
“If I don’t want to do one thing [it] is give Ajax any kind of hint or whatever you want for what they have to expect tomorrow night and don’t give anybody kind of a headline, stuff like this,” Klopp explained.
“And it’s not the time for us to do that, we don’t have to create headlines before the game. If positive headlines [are] for after the game and for that the only chance we have is during the game.
“I think Ajax expect us to react. I’m not sure if they use a lot of the Napoli game and say ‘Yeah, OK, that’s how they can play as well.’ But if you see us this season we are just not consistent enough so far.
“This consistency we have to build and create again. That was always the same, it always starts with defending and that’s what we have to do better and then we will see what we can do with that.”
