The Reds narrowly secured all three points for the second time in 2-weeks as Diogo Jota and Mohammed Salah helped Liverpool cross the 10,000 goal mark, in all competitions. An injury to depute centre-half Fabinho on the hour-mark leaves Jurgen Klopp with more questions than obvious answers at the back, though.
Liverpool only registered one-shot on target until injury time, Trent Alexander Arnold drifted into the box from wide and set up Jota for a tap in 10-minutes after half time. Throughout the first half, they were limited to speculative half-chances and they met a well-drilled Danish side, who currently sit third the Danish Superliga.
Liverpool registered a total of 9 shots and created just one that was clear-cut (source: Sky Sports). Midtjylland created 3 clear cut chances and had a higher percentage of areal duels won.
Danish champions Midtjylland had their moments over the 90-minutes. One of European football's feel-good stories, Midtjylland almost took a shock early lead only for Alisson to save Liverpool's blushes to keep out former Brighton player Anders Dreyer following a ball over the top.
Moments before Salah doubled the lead in stoppage time Dreyer went close to equalising, going past Gomez but dinking over Alisson and into the side-netting.
This was Liverpool’s first game since August 2015 that they were without any of their electric front-three. Instead, Xherdan Shaqiri, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi took up the task of providing attacking impetuous. With the exception of Shaqiri’s sharp one-two with Alexannder-Arnold in the build-up to Jota’s goal, they struggled to do so.
Klopp brought them on to seal the win later on, consequently.
Fabinho pulled up off the ball and fell to the ground in the first half, looking in some pain and discomfort and Liverpool were forced to bring on Rhys Williams in his absence. Williams, who made an assured 3rd appearance for the Reds, now has more Champions League than Domestic caps.
The backroom staff at Melwood will be hoping that this injury is nothing beyond a strain with defensive options wearing thin. Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip are both in the treatment room, the former likely to be missing until the season end.
Group rivals Atalanta and Ajax drew 2-2 in Italy on a night that sees Klopp’s side take control of the table. The Reds’ take on Gian Piero Gasperini and his men next Tuesday o
n Match week 3.
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