DIOGO’S DAZZLER
Reds new boy fires home 10,000th goal
DIOGO JOTA carved his name in the Anfield record books with the landmark 10,00th goal in Liverpool’s history.
But if that was the highlight of a night when the Reds secured their second win in the Champions League to take control of their group, then there was more misery for boss Jurgen Klopp with yet another defensive injury.
This time it was Fabinho who limped out of the fray on the half- hour with another injury as he trudged off holding the back of his leg.
It is a nightmare for the Reds manager, who now has just one fit senior centre- half at the club – and even lost potential stand- in Jordan Henderson at half- time.
At least £ 45m summer signing Jota – and late on Mo Salah – provided some relief for Liverpool on a disappointing night for the English club as they struggled to impose themselves.
The Portuguese star rounded off a fine move crafted by Trent Alexander- Arnold, to at least spare the blushes, on a distinctly underwhelming evening.
In fact, underwhelming hardly cuts it. Liverpool were desperately poor in the first half, their replacement front three looking no match for Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, who were all rested.
But it was at the other end of the pitch that the misery really occurred, with that injury for Fabinho sending shockwaves through Liverpool’s season.
It means they are down to Joe Gomez in central defence and they have only one more centre- half over the age of 19, with Nathaniel Phillips at 23 looking the next in line.
He has played just one game for the Reds, though, with Fabinho’s 19- year- old replacement last night Rhys Williams making two starts.
If Fabinho faces a spell out, Klopp would normally press Henderson into service in a defensive role, at least until Joel Matip returns, which could be a week or so away.
But he too departed the game early.
He was replaced at half- time after an X- rated challenge from visiting midfielder Jens Cajuste, which had Klopp seeing red.
It could have been even worse in the first half when visiting striker Anders Dreyer was sent through by a fine ball from Joel Andersson but he lacked conviction and Alisson saved well.
Liverpool created little but eventually the visitors from Denmark finally tired and allowed Jota to write a little piece of Anfield history.
It would have been fitting had Alexander- Arnold scored it, a local boy etching his name in club legend – but he did most of the leg work for the goal.
A crisp one- two with Xherdan Shaqiri saw him dash into the box and unselfishly pull the ball back for the Portugal international.
Salah added the gloss in injury time, winning and converting a penalty.
LIVERPOOL ( 4- 3- 3): Alisson 7; ALEXANDERARNOLD 8, Gomez 7, Fabinho 6 ( R Williams 30, 7), Robertson 7; Shaqiri 6, Henderson 7 ( Wijnaldum 46, 6), Milner 6; Jota 7 ( Firmino 81), Minamino 5 ( Mane 60, 6), Origi 6 ( Salah 60, 6).
MIDTJYLLAND ( 4- 2- 3- 1): Andersen 7; Andersson 6, Scholz 7, Sviatchenko 7, Paulinho 6; Onyeka 6, Cajuste 5 ( Kraeve 81); Dreyer 7, Sisto 6 ( Evander 73), Mabil 6 ( Anderson 66, 6); Kaba 5 ( Pfeiffer 81).
Pawel Raczkowski ( Poland) 6.