Follow Ajax vs Tottenham in our dedicated live blog on the Sky Sports app and SkySports.com on Wednesday evening
Wednesday 8 May 2019 17:49, UK
Will Tottenham follow Liverpool's example and overcome a Champions League semi-final first leg deficit against Ajax to make the final?
Jurgen Klopp's side stunned the world when they beat Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield on Tuesday, overturning the 3-0 result from the first leg to make the Madrid final.
Attention turns to Amsterdam (kick-off 8pm) as Tottenham have a similar dilemma, already trailing 1-0 to Ajax from their first-leg tie with the Dutch side scoring a crucial away goal.
Mauricio Pochettino's side have lost five of their last six games in all competitions, including a late defeat to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday where Heung-Min Son and Juan Foyth were sent off.
Ajax certainly will not lack belief when they host Spurs, having already knocked three-time defending champions Real Madrid out in the round of 16 before overcoming Juventus in the quarter-finals.
The Eredivisie side are bidding to reach their first Champions League final for 23 years and will be favourites after Donny van de Beek's goal in north London last week.
Only one team of the 17 who have lost a Champions League semi-final, first leg at home have overturned the tie -- when Ajax overhauled Panathinaikos in the second leg in 1995/96.
Pochettino said the first-leg deficit should allow his side to play with more freedom in the Johan Cruyff Arena.
"The negative result in the first leg obviously makes it more difficult tomorrow, but the tie is still open," the Argentine said. "We know we need to win and perform to our best. It's an exciting moment for us.
"We need to feel more freedom to play tomorrow, because we have nothing to lose."
Pochettino was in a playful mood and even suggested he would "go home" if Tottenham went on to win the Champions League.
Asked to clarify, he said: "To win the Champions League with Tottenham, in this circumstance, maybe I need to think to do something different in the future."
Ajax head coach Erik ten Hag insisted his side will be aiming for a victory, despite the advantage and away goal.
He said: "We have to win the match tomorrow. We will play for that, we will focus on that. We will play with respect for the opponent, but we have to win. Maybe it is not needed, but we want to win every game we play.
"I've really enjoyed this experience with the team, we've enjoyed it together. There is a special energy and dynamic in this team, when they play and when they are together in general. That's something I enjoy and I am glad to be a part of it."
Spurs defender Davinson Sanchez has been ruled out of Wednesday night's clash due to a thigh injury picked up on Saturday.
Jan Vertonghen has been training and will wear a mask to protect his nose if he is passed fit to play against former club Ajax.
It looks like Harry Kane has failed in his bid to make a miraculous recovery from an ankle injury; Spurs have not officially ruled him out but he looks unlikely to make it, while Harry Winks is also definitely out.
Erik Lamela and Serge Aurier are both back from hamstring injuries and should be in the squad while Spurs are also boosted by the return of Heung-Min Son from suspension.
Hassane Bande and Carel Eiting are still missing for Ajax, but otherwise Erik ten Hag has a full squad to pick from.
Ajax limited the minutes of David Neres and Lasse Schone on Sunday in their 4-0 KNVB Cup final win over Willem II on Sunday, though there is a decision to be made as to whether Joel Veltman plays at right-back over Noussair Mazraoui.
Are Tottenham stressed by their exertions this season or have they just suffered some bad luck?
It's the former, says the Daily Express' Matt Dunn, as The Sunday Supplement panel discuss...
He said: "They have been a lot more solid mentally in recent weeks, but now, when they're run into the ground, they're tired, it's game after game and the results are going against them. They're just being human again and it's costing them."
Tottenham have dropped form and are not playing well. Heung-Min Son was sent off at the weekend and this is his opportunity to save Tottenham's season. Although Ajax looked a bit naive at Tottenham, they were only naive as they did such a good job in the first half and let Tottenham off.
On the night, Tottenham's attacking players were very poor and Ajax's were very good. Dele Alli has been really poor recently and Christian Eriksen needs to up his game too. Tottenham have to go after this game and they are chasing. I expect Ajax to score and I do not know whether Tottenham will have two in them. I see another painful night for the English team.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: Ajax 1-1 Tottenham - 6/1 with Sky Bet
The Champions League final, the 27th in its current format and 64th of Europe's elite-club competition, will take place on June 1, 2019.
Kick-off is at 8pm (BST), 9pm (CEST).
Follow Ajax vs Tottenham in our dedicated live blog on the Sky Sports app and SkySports.com on Wednesday evening
