Rafael van der Vaart rips into THREE 'very normal' players at Liverpool ahead of Ajax match

Rafael van der Vaart has ripped into three 'very normal' players at Liverpool and claims they can be a 'very mediocre team' when their forwards don't produce.

The Reds resume their Champions League campaign against Ajax, having suffered a crushing 4-1 defeat to Napoli last week.

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Jurgen Klopp's team will be looking to get off the mark in the group stage when they host the Dutch champions.

And ahead of the Anfield clash, Van der Vaart has savaged three Liverpool stars.

The former Tottenham man has taken aim at Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Joe Gomez.

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He's also suggested that Klopp's side can be a 'very mediocre' outfit if their star forwards fail to influence the game.

Speaking on Dutch outlet Rondo, he said: "I think we have become a bit blinded. We suddenly think Jordan Henderson is a crazy player. That's just a very normal player.

"James Milner is also a very normal player. Joe Gomez is also a very normal player. Virgil van Dijk is top, the right back and left back are also good.

"But if things don't go well and those attackers don't have their day, then I think it's just a very mediocre team."

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Van der Vaart, though, concedes that if Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz are firing on all cylinders, then Ajax will be in trouble.

"The only thing I'm afraid of at Ajax is: if Luis Díaz and Mohamed Salah do have their day, then we have a problem," he added.

"Then Ajax will never win. Certainly not at Anfield, I don't think Daley Blind and Devyne Rensch are good enough for that."

Ajax opened their Champions League venture with a resounding 4-0 win over Rangers.