Jota & Salah Send Liverpool Top
28 October, 2020
UEFA Champions League
Result: Liverpool 2-0 Midtjylland
Date: 27 October 2020
Venue: Anfield
Liverpool went top of Group D with a 2-0 victory over Midtjylland in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday evening.
Midtjylland should have been ahead in the 3rd minute. Liverpool's high line was picked off by an extended ball forward from centre-back Alexander Scholz for Anders Dreyer, who carried it in to the area after breaking in behind, but Alisson got out to smother his finish.
The visitors were hurrying Liverpool in possession and with 35 minutes gone there have been just one single shot in the game - testament to how well the Danish side had done in the opening period to nullify the Reds attack.
Klopp wanted a little more dynamism in his midfield and brought on Georginio Wijnaldum for Jordan Henderson at the break.
Diogo Jota, who scored a brace for Portugal in the international break, continued his fine recent form by breaking the deadlock in the 55th minute.
Wijnaldum spread the play to Trent Alexander-Arnold on the proper, who cut inside past Awer Mabil, played a neat one-two with Xherdan Shaqiri and squared the ball to provide Jota a tap-in at the far post.
Klopp looked to help make the result convenient by bringing on Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane on after 60 minutes for Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi, who had both been largely ineffectual.
Liverpool survived a scare in the 78th minute. Evander received the ball in the area and he had time to take a touch, turn and shoot but he pulled his shot wide to the left of goal.
With two minutes to go, Roberto Firmino, who had come on as a substitute for Jota, must have wrapped up the overall game. Alexander-Arnold found him completely unmarked on the penalty spot, but he leant back and skied his finish over the crossbar.
And Midtjylland came near equalising in stoppage time when Dreyer got in again after some quick passing but clipped his finish into the side netting before Salah won and converted a penalty to put the result certainly.
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za