Klopp praises exceptional Salah as he breaks record
LIVERPOOL manager Jurgen Klopp paid tribute to Mohamed Salah after he broke yet another goalscoring record at the club.
The Egyptian striker eclipsed Steven Gerrard as Liverpool’s top scorer in the Champions League with his double record-breaking goal in a 1-1 draw against Midtjylland.
The Eg y p t i nt e r na t i o na l struck after just 55 seconds as his 22nd goal in the competition also proved to be the club’s fastest.
However, Alexander Scholz’s Var-awarded 62nd-minute penalty denied Klopp’s side victory and their best return from the group stage.
“One record after another. I didn’t know he could break his record tonight but I’m pretty sure he is proud of that. He should be,” Klopp said.
“An exceptional player, an absolutely exceptional player. Since we were together he helps the team the way he knows and appreciates the help of the team.
“If it was only the incredible number of his goals it would not be enough to be successful, so thank God others scored a lot of goals as well and made this team successful.
“But Mo is a very exceptional player. Nobody doubted it, but if you need numbers to prove, he delivers that as well.”
The game was not the best advert for video technolog y with long delays over three second-half goal incidents which contributed to eight minutes of added time and plenty of additional frustration.
Salah’s early opener came courtesy of a mistake from Midtjylland, who became the first side to concede two first-minute Champions League goals in the same season.
Scholz’s attempted backpass got stuck under the feet of centre-back Dion Cools and was seized upon by Salah, who raced clear to trickle a shot past the goalkeeper.
With Kostas Tsimikas off the pitch receiving treatment, Midtjylland equalised in controversial circumstances.
Anders Dreyer was brought down by Kelleher but referee Francois Letexier spotted an offside flag and blew for the freekick.
However, a VAR review advised the official to go to the pi t c hsi de monitor a nd t he
Frenchman awarded a spot-kick from which Scholz scored.
There was still time for Takumi Minamino to have a goal ruled out for a Sadio Mane handball as VAR continued to confound and confuse.
“I used to be one of the people who said VAR is a good idea, I’m really not sure if I would say that again to be honest. But now we have it,” Klopp added.
FC MIDTJYLLAND: Hansen, Cools, Sviatchenko, Scholz, Da Silva, Cajuste, Ogochukwu Onyeka (Isaksen, 63mins), Dreyer (Sisto, 76mins), Evander (Madsen 90mins), Mabil (Anderson, 63mins), Kaba (Pfeiffer, 90mins).
Subs not used: Hoegh, Andersson, Thorsen, Vibe, Ottesen, Dyhr, Sery Larsen.
LIVERPOOL: Kelleher, Alexander-arnold, R Williams, Fabinho (Koumetio, 46mins), Tsimikas (Robertson, 61mins), Keita (Henderson, 62mins), Clarkson, Minamino, Salah, Origi (Firmino, 71mins), Jota (Mane, 87mins).
Subs not used: Wijnaldum, Adrian, Jones, Matip, Jaros, Cain, N Williams.
Referee: Francois Letexier (France)
Man of the match: Caoimhin Kelleher
Match rating: