VAR controversary in Liverpool Champions League draw

Nine minutes were added on after three lengthy VAR reviews in Liverpool’s 1-1 draw in their final Champions League group match away to Midtjylland.

The expectations of excitement in this match were low given that the English champions had already won the group after four wins and one defeat while the Danish Champions were already firmly stuck to the bottom of the group with just one point after five matches. Liverpool took the opportunity therefore to field their youngest ever Champions league side with an average starting line-up age of just 24.

The match however sprung into life in the very first minute when Mo Salah scored Liverpool’s fastest ever Champions League goal after just 55 seconds and overtook Steven Gerrard as Liverpool’s all-time leading goal scorer in the European Cup.

Mo Salah scores Liverpool’s fastest ever Champions League goal after 55 seconds Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

The first of three controversial and lengthy VAR incidents arrived early in the second half when 22 years old stand-in Irish keeper Caoimhin Kelleher came rushing out from the Liverpool net and hit Anders Dreyer after he broke through on goal.

The young Cork man had little option and looked like he got away with the foul until several minutes of VAR review resulted in a spot kick being awarded to the Danes. Alexander Scholz stepped up and equalised with an impressive spot kick to level the match at 1-1 after 62 minutes.

The second VAR decision this time went in Liverpool’s favour when Scholz was denied a second goal for offside. The final lengthy VAR decision of the night came in the 89^th minute when Liverpool thought they had won the game when Takumi Minamino scored but the video replay adjudged Sadio Mane to have handled the ball in the build up.

Sadio Mane adjudged by VAR to have handled the ball to deny winner in 89th minute Photo: Stephen Gormley (Red Eye Photo Agency)

Liverpool enter the last 16 draw on Monday in Nyon alongside fellow English group winners Chelsea and Manchester City.