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Liverpool lowered the curtain on their Champions League group stage campaign with a 1-1 draw at FC Midtjylland last night.
Jurgen Klopp’s team had already secured the top spot in Group D thanks to Curtis Jones’ goal at Anfield against Ajax on matchday five.
Takumi Minamino had a late winner ruled out by a Sadio Mane hand but, with first place already secured, the two lost points didn’t matter much.
The national media and other publications had a lot to say about the party, and here is a summary of the reaction …
‘Soccer used to be the game that was perfectly imperfect’
Dominic King of the Daily Mail wrote : But it was the meticulous use of VAR that left Klopp so subdued. Liverpool were assured of first place in Group D regardless of the final score, but their coach was baffled by how long it took to determine the home team’s penalty and Taki Minamino’s goal that never went.
He didn’t need to add anything else. Soccer used to be the game that was perfectly flawed, but now the quest to microanalyze everything, even pixels and lines on a video screen, is sucking up the fun of the proceedings. Until a solution is found, it will remain that way.
It’s a shame that, again, technology became the dominant topic of conversation. Really, it should have been Salah’s, who scored Liverpool’s fastest goal in the Champions League or European Cup at 59 seconds to become the club’s top scorer in the competition, usurping Steven Gerrard.
True, they were aided and abetted by a pitiful defense from the hosts, but Salah still had the presence of mind and the desire to chase a sloppy ball and inflict maximum damage. His consistency in setting a new bar in three and a half seasons has been remarkable.
‘Dead rubber still provided moments to remember’
Mike McGrath of the Telegraph wrote : There was nothing to play for on the Jutland Peninsula, but Liverpool managed to pass important benchmarks in Denmark, notably Mohamed Salah becoming the club’s top scorer in the Champions League.
With Jurgen Klopp’s team safe in the knockout stages while Group D winners and their opponents guaranteed the wooden spoon, this dead rubber still provided moments to remember.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was the team’s captain for the first time in his career, while Billy Koumetio is now the club’s youngest player in the competition, at 18 years and 25 days.
For Salah, he was ahead of Steven Gerrard’s 21 goals when he scored with 55 seconds left.
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‘It was no surprise to see the 25-year-old taken off’
Freddie Keighley of the Mirror wrote : The arrivals of Takumi Minamino and Diogo Jota this year are a big part of the reason for their diminished role, while [Divock] Origi did herself no favors with her display in Midtjylland.
Origi had a golden opportunity to double Liverpool’s lead thanks to Mohamed Salah’s setback in the first half, but shot her effort wide open as she struggled to unite midfield and the wingmen.
It was no surprise to see the 25-year-old replaced by Roberto Firmino in the second half, and his lackluster performance in Denmark will add to speculation about a possible departure from Anfield.
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‘His dissent against the VAR was understandable’
Andy Hunter of the Guardian wrote : It was the dead rubber that confirmed that VAR is a dead weight, a burden on the sport it is supposed to protect. “He used to be one of the people who said that VAR is a good idea,” said Jürgen Klopp. “I’m really not sure I’ll say that again to be honest.”
The Liverpool manager showed his disappointment after his team ended the Champions League group procession with an eventful draw in Midtjylland. His dissent against the VAR was understandable. It will also be welcome if other prominent voices push for a desperately needed overhaul of a system that is devouring the spirit and enjoyment of the game.
There were nine minutes of added time in Denmark as a result of three lengthy VAR reviews which, in order, awarded Midtjylland a penalty after an initial offside decision, denied the hosts a second for offside and disallowed a goal on the 89th minute by Liverpool’s Takumi Minamino for an apparent handball by Sadio Mané. Mané’s handball was not clear and obvious and Minamino was initially, and incorrectly, declared offside before the VAR forensic team got down to business and disallowed a goal that would have given Liverpool a club record. 15 points in a group.
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