Joel Matip was the hero as the Liverpool defender rose to give the Reds their first three points in the Champions League this season.
With the match in the 89th minute, Matip's header from Kostas Tsimikas's corner just crossed the goalline at the Kop end to spark wild celebrations as a determined Ajax side were beaten at the last.
The Reds had been worthy of the win, but couldn't break the Dutch side down after Mohammed Kudus had cancelled out Mohamed Salah's first half goal, with the hosts seeing several opportunities come and go and striking the woodwork via a deflected Salah effort.
But after claiming that he needed to see "reinvention" from his side after their dismal loss to Napoli, Jurgen Klopp would have been delighted with what he saw from his team as they battled for the win.
Here are the three factors he'd have been happiest with.
Diogo Jota underlines his importance
On a night when Liverpool needed to rediscover their best pressing game, it was no shock to see that Diogo Jota was in from the start in place of either Darwin Nunez or Roberto Firmino.
That's no slight on either man, but with Nunez still coming to terms with his new surroundings and Firmino perhaps slowing down, it is the Portuguese to whom Klopp can entrust with helping his side find themselves again.
Liverpool have missed him more than many have cared to notice during this stuttering start to the season, but he was excellent here as he buzzed around on and off the ball in the opening exchanges, during which he linked up well with Salah and Luis Diaz.
It was Jota's pass which teed Salah up for his goal, and he could have found the net on a couple of occasions himself as he looked a lot livelier than many of his teammates have in recent weeks.
A time for calm heads
Given what went on in Naples they were two changes that were crying out to be made, but the restoration of Matip and Thiago to the Liverpool first XI were two more intelligent choices from Klopp on an evening when calm heads were needed.
The duo's ability on the ball has never been in question, and indeed it is looking after the ball that Liverpool need to get better at during a period when they are seeking to evolve the way they play.
Thiago in particular was superb in the first half, and while you can question the wisdom of relying so much on the Spaniard given how injury-prone he is, the Reds a much, much better side with him in it.
The return of what Liverpool should look like
It looked like it wasn't to be in front of goal as the Reds pressed for a winner, only for Matip's late intervention.
The Cameroonian's header from a corner in front of the Kop sent the home crowd wild on an evening when it had looked like the Reds were going to be frustrated, but Klopp cant have argued with the performance of his side even if that goal hadn't come.
Liverpool looked like Liverpool, with wave after wave of attacks raining down on the Ajax goal, but Matip provided the magic, manic moment.
