Adrian detailed Liverpool's immense satisfaction at beating and shutting out AFC Ajax in their Champions League Group D opener on Wednesday night.
The Reds earned a 1-0 victory at Johan Cruyff Arena following an own goal from Nicolas Tagliafico and a resilient defensive display.*
Sharing similar sentiments with Jürgen Klopp, Adrian expressed his delight at securing the important result after a tricky encounter with the competition's semi-finalists from 2018-19.**
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The Spaniard told Liverpoolfc.com post-match: "It was the best start to a new campaign of Champions League – getting the clean sheet on a difficult pitch like this one and the first three points.
"It's a big win, a massive one – three points in the Champions League and a clean sheet. It was a little bit different, strange, we missed some good players.
"I think we deserved another result in the derby but I think we reacted really well and the team showed the strong mentality that we have, a winning mentality.*
"We showed [that] and we go back to Liverpool with the first three points.
"As a goalkeeper, keeping a clean sheet is a massive thing and the last few games we conceded many goals, some cheap goals. Tonight was good keeping a clean sheet and scoring one goal to get us three points."
Liverpool's pursuit of that shutout was preserved thanks to a sublime goalline clearance from Fabinho towards the end of the first half, denying Ajax skipper Dusan Tadic.*
It was the standout moment of a Man of the Match performance from the Brazilian, who was deputising at centre-half due to the absence of Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip.
Watch: Fabinho's crucial clearance
On Fabinho's showing at the back, Adrian commented: "Fab played a few times there last season and the more games playing together, everyone is going to get more confident, for sure.*
"We've known each other for a long time and it's not just the centre-backs and the goalkeeper, it's the whole team defending and it was a very good job from everyone.
"Obviously we know we are going to miss Virgil and it's a big loss for us, but it's how to react. We have many good players who can play in this position – Fabinho did great tonight with Joe.*
"We have a great squad and we have shown at different times last season, when anyone is not playing, another one comes from the bench to do the same and even better.*
"We are going to miss Virg, for sure, but I thought we did good tonight from the defending side."



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