Ajax star slammed as ‘of no use’ ahead of Liverpool clash in Champions League

Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez has been labelled as ‘of no use’ ahead of their clash against Liverpool tonight (20.00 BST).

The Reds only need a point at the Johan Cruyff Arena took book their spot in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Ajax, on the other hand, need to win their remaining two games and hope Jurgen Klopp’s side are also defeated by Napoli on match-day six.

Manager Alfred Schreuder has confirmed that Alvarez is available, having come off when feeling unwell in their 4-1 victory over RKC Waalwijk last weekend.

The Mexico international was coveted by Chelsea in the summer transfer window and had a £43 million bid turned down.

And ex-Ajax and Real Madrid midfielder Wesley Sneijder believes his former club should have sold Alvarez to the Stamford Bridge side - because he only plays the ball backwards or sideways.

He said: “I was a player who always looked ahead and Berghuis has that too. If you are comfortable in your own skin and you have given such a ball (his second goal against RKC Waalwijk), then you will float and everything will work out. You have to dare to do that and he is one of those players who dares to do that.

“If you compare him to Álvarez; I can now also play in his role. He plays everything back or wide. It’s no use to you. In the summer Chelsea wanted to take over him for millions of euros and Sneijder had not doubted that for a second. They should have taken him to London very quickly. You could have brought back two nice players for that.”