FC Midtjylland vs Liverpool

MCH Arena

FT:1-1

9th of December 2020

Goals: Mohamed Salah 1′, Alexander Scholz, 62′ (P)

A much-changed Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by Midtjylland in their final Champions League Group D game after VAR denied Takumi Minamino a late winner.

Liverpool had already been confirmed as group winners and Jurgen Klopp made eight changes, naming the Reds’ youngest ever starting XI in the competition (24 years and 26 days), including a Champions League debut to 19-year-old Leighton Clarkson.

But it was one of the senior players that put them ahead when Mohamed Salah slotted home through goalkeeper Jesper Hansen’s legs after 55 seconds – scoring Liverpool’s fastest Champions League goal. That was, the Egyptian 22nd goal in the UEFA Champions League (excluding qualifiers.) He has now overtaken Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard (21) to become the Reds all-time leading European goalscorer.

But Midtjylland – who have already finished bottom of Group D – pushed for an equaliser, especially after the break, and were gifted the breakthrough when VAR awarded them a penalty. Caoimhin Kelleher was penalised for sending Anders Dreyer over with a stray leg and, after a lengthy review, Alexander Scholz (62) powered the spot-kick home.

Klopp threw on his big guns as the game went on and Liverpool thought they had scored the winner when Minamino poked home in the 89th minute, but VAR was there again to rule it out for handball against Sadio Mane in the build-up.

How VAR dominated in Denmark

Liverpool began their last Champions League group game of the season with a bang when Salah scored inside a minute. It was a poor Midtjylland pass that he took advantage of, driving through the midfield with the stretch of captain Erik Sviatchenko unable to stop him. Hansen came out to meet him but Salah’s well-timed poke through the goalkeeper’s legs did the job as the ball slowly bobbled over the line.

Salah almost made it two after he collected a lovely, chipped pass from Minamino, but his strike was saved by Hansen at the near post with the offside flag also raised. The goalkeeper denied Liverpool again soon after when he pushed away Diogo Jota’s flicked effort from close range.

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