Morocco international Hakim Ziyech put in a stellar display as Ajax crushed Real Madrid 4-1 in the second leg of Champions League Round of 16.
Ajax travelled to Spain for the Champions League last-16 second-leg, having lost 2-1 in Amsterdam to Real Madrid two weeks ago. Very few would have given Ajax a realistic chance of progressing, but they came all guns blazing in the opening stages and found themselves 2-0 ahead inside just 20 minutes.
The architect of the comeback was none other than Hakim Ziyech, who scored the opener very early in the game and tormented Real Madrid with his movement, passing and creativity. The Moroccan alongside the likes of Dusan Tadic, David Neres, Frenkie De Jong and Lasse Schone tore Madrid to shreds at the Santiago Bernabeu, sealing a 5-3 aggregate victory and eliminating the holders before the quarter-finals.
Last May, a report from Calciomercato suggested Liverpool were one of the few Premier League clubs interested in Hakim Ziyech. Having excelled both in the Eredivisie and the Champions League this season, Liverpool should rekindle their interest in the Ajax playmaker this summer.
The Reds are gunning for the Premier League title this season but have fallen a point behind league leaders Manchester City after a 0-0 draw with Everton at the Goodison Park last weekend. Jurgen Klopp didn’t make any investment in the January transfer window and his team seems to be haunted by it as they are now battling with injuries in the team without enough bench strength.
Moreover, Liverpool are yet to sign a replacement for Philippe Coutinho, who left Anfield for Barcelona last January. However, Ziyech could to be the answer to Coutinho’s replacement, with the 25-year-old enjoying his best season in Ajax colours.
Ziyech is extremely versatile, capable of playing in central midfield, right and left wing and as a no.10. His main strengths lie with passing and dribbling ability, with the Moroccan combining his agility and skill to wreak havoc against the opposition defenders. Apart from excellent dribbling, he can deliver killer passes, whether from open play or from set-pieces.
A goalscoring midfielder, Ziyech is someone who always likes to get close to the ball and is also known for his superior work rate. His contract with Ajax runs out in the summer of 2021 and judging by his performances this season, the midfielder seems to be ready for a step up in his career.
And Liverpool should benefit immensely by signing Ziyech, who would add more dynamism and cutting edge to their attack whilst being a long-term replacement for Coutinho.
