Fabinho and Joe Gomez prove there's life for Liverpool after Virgil van Dijk

Joe Gomez had enough on his plate without having to worry about being tackled by his own team-mates.

But less than 90 seconds into this Champions League group opener at Ajax, the Liverpool defender was left glaring at Adrian when, in attempting to usher the ball back to his goalkeeper, he was almost cleaned out by the Spaniard.

No harm came of it – which was just as well, given Gomez was the Reds’ only remaining fit senior centre-back.

It was, however, an inauspicious response to the absence of Virgil van Dijk, the talismanic Dutchman having had his season decimated by the serious knee injury inflicted by Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.

With Alisson Becker also missing, Liverpool were shorn of arguably the best keeper in the world and most definitely the best defender. 

Any team would suffer as a consequence.

Pick your LFC Man of the Match right here

And, when Adrian shortly afterwards saw a clearance charged down and bounce out of play, the uncertainty was visibly rippling through the Reds rearguard.

Gradually and encouragingly, though, Liverpool began to gel at the back with Fabinho underlining why Jurgen Klopp has placed such faith in him as a fourth-choice central defender.

Deputising for the absent Joel Matip, the Brazilian was outstanding in swiftly assuming the role of senior presence at the back, Gomez taking his lead from his colleague.

An unexpected role reversal for the 35th different centre-back partnership under Klopp, but it worked. And the growing confidence of the duo coursed through the whole team as Liverpool edged towards only a second clean sheet in their last 13 away Champions League matches.

Adrian was required to make one fine save from Quincy Promes at point-blank range while Fabinho encapsulated the Reds’ resolve with an incredible hooked clearance off the line from Dusan Tadic.

Sure, there was fortune when Davy Klaassen’s shot shortly after the break struck the inside of the post and flew clear.

Just like there was when, on 35 minutes, Nicolas Tagliafico inexplicably struck Sadio Mane’s mishit shot into his own net for the only goal.

Liverpool have had enough bad luck in recent days to warrant a rub or two of the green.

But with Fabinho and Gomez leading a stoic defensive effort, this victory – and a big one at that – was thoroughly deserved.

As Klopp has always maintained, there is life after Van Dijk. Liverpool are up and running in the Champions League once more.