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Even on a night that didn’t mean much, Midtjylland’s home draw against Liverpool managed to deliver some scores and an important talking point.
The Danish champions were already destined to finish last in Group D of the Champions League before the start of Wednesday night, while Jurgen Klopp’s men had secured their passage to the knockout stages as their winners.
Mohamed Salah, whose XI selection stumped many given Liverpool’s long injured list and busy schedule, had something personal to play for. And it only took him 55 seconds to complete his mission, unseating Steven Gerrard as the club’s all-time top scorer in European elite competition with 22 goals.
Trent Alexander-Arnold returned from injury and wore the captain’s armband for the first time.
Teenage midfielder Leighton Clarkson received his Champions League bow and performed well in the center of the park, while substitute Billy Koumetio became the youngest player to represent the Merseysiders in the European Cup at the age of 18. and 25 days.
Klopp had made eight changes from the side that decimated Wolves 4-0 on Sunday, but Liverpool took the lead and were only really concerned in the second half.
Salah celebrates his first goal
(Getty)
Midtjylland deserved to be rewarded for his research, but it came under strange circumstances.
Anders Dreyer scooped up a ball from deep and moved behind Liverpool’s defense, with goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher running off and fouling.
The Dane had managed to steer the ball into the goal, but the flag went offside when Clarkson cleared the line.
Mohamed Salah fights for the ball against Midtjylland
(AFP)
A VAR check appeared to rule out the referee’s finding with referee Francois Letexier going to the court monitor before awarding a penalty and issuing Kelleher a yellow card.
Alexander Scholz fired into the lower right corner without the keeper having a chance to save the penalty and Midtjylland pressed hard for the winning goal.
There was another confusing VAR control when the home scorer had the ball back at the back of the net, but after a long pause it was ruled offside.
Kelleher reacts after giving away a penalty
(AFP)
If there weren’t enough head-scratching moments on dead rubber already, what would have been a Liverpool winner for Takumi Minamino was also scored after a check.
Substitute Sadio Mane was penalized for heading the ball into his own hand in preparation, but appeared to have come off the defender’s arm.
And so everything ended evenly, with frustration over the use of VAR that still managed to confuse a game that had nothing at stake.
