As late winners go, it was hardly the beautiful game in all its glory, not that anyone was complaining.
In the full speed moment of real time, Joel Matip 's header from Kostas Tsimikas ' corner appeared to have been cleared off the line by an heroic Ajax defender, but a linesman's flag and the advent of goalline technology said otherwise. The ball had crossed the line and Liverpool had won the match.
For a moment that did not involve a deeply satisfying net bulge, the crucial goal was nevertheless greeted with a roar of glee inside Anfield. Unquestionably boosted by a collective outpouring of relief. After the hiding suffered in Naples, this was a game that Liverpool simply had to win if they are to plot themselves a straight forward route out of Group A and into the Champions League knockout stage.
