Jan Kromkamp had a very brief period as a Liverpool player, moving to Anfield from Villarreal in 2006 before leaving the Reds that same year to join PSV.
Now 42-years-of-age, the Dutchman has been speaking to the media in his home country ahead of Tuesday evening’s match between Liverpool and Ajax. There’s a lot of talk in the Dutch media about the Premier League club having a difficult start to the season, but also a warning for Ajax not to be complacent, given how Jurgen Klopp’s side destroyed Bournemouth 9-0 recently.
Kromkamp has been speaking to AD, and clear still has affection and admiration for the club’s fans. AD quote him as saying: “Anfield remains special and magical. What sometimes happened was that a player would come on the field later because he had to tape his ankle or something. The fans immediately notice that. That player was then greeted a little later with just as much noise as the ten who entered the field before that.
“It’s a pleasure to play there. The pitch, the fans, everything is perfect there. It gets very interesting. I’m also curious. Ajax is doing well, while Liverpool of course also remains a class team.”
Shortly after leaving Anfield, Kromkamp had the chance to return when representing PSV, that experience has left a positive taste for him and he explained the reaction he got from the home fans: “That was very special, because I had just joined PSV when I had to play against Liverpool again. Then you come back and you don’t feel for a second that you are the enemy. The fans gave me a feeling of coming home. That’s the magic of that club. Very special.”
AD continually pressed for comment on the contrasting form between the two Champions League clubs, with Ajax having a good start to the season, with six league wins from six despite losing multiple important players, and Liverpool somewhat faltering.
Kromkamp accepts Ajax are in a good moment, and that it could be a good time for them to face the Reds: “Isn’t it wonderful for a trainer to be able to take players like Kudus off the bench? How he accelerates and turns, that is quality. And the art is to get as high up on the pitch as possible with such players. And Liverpool are not yet the well-oiled machine they used to be.”
Still, Liverpool are Liverpool so Ajax will be aware that taking anything away from Anfield would be a good result.
