Mohamed Salah creates new record for Liverpool in UEFA Champions League draw against Midtjylland

Mohamed Salah became Liverpool’s all-time top scorer in the Champions League as they were held to a 1-1 draw away to Denmark’s Midtjylland on Wednesday having already secured top spot in Group D. Mohammed Salah put the Premier League champions ahead in the first minute, latching on to a poor backpass and bursting goalwards before slipping the ball past goalkeeper Jesper Hansen. The goal was Salah's 22nd in the Champions League making him the club’s record scorer in the competition. The Danes drew level in the 62nd minute through an Alexander Scholz penalty after Liverpool keeper Caoimhin Kelleher brought down Anders Dreyer. The linesman had initially flagged for offside but that decision was overturned by VAR. Scholz had an effort ruled out for offside in the 77th minute while Liverpool`s Japanese midfielder Takumi Minamino also had the ball in the net but the goal was not awarded following a VAR review. Jurgen Klopp had fielded a weakened and youthful team in the game against the bottom club in the group.

It was a great reward for Mohamed Salah, who had undergone some tough times in November. On the eve of Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Togo, news of Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah being tested positive for the coronavirus came out, the Egyptian Football Association said. "The medical swab conducted on the mission of our first national football team showed that our international player, Mohamed Salah, the Liverpool star, was infected with the Coronavirus after his test came back positive," the federation said in a statement on its Facebook page at that time.

Salah in great form

Before he was hit by the coronavirus, Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool a fine start in their Premier League title defence when he scored a hat-trick, which included two penalties against Leeds in September.

Liverpool were concerned with some slack defending but once again did what they have done so well in the past two seasons -- finding a way to win at the end. A season beginning with fans still barred from the grounds due to COVID-19 restrictions needed a start to spark some excitement among frustrated fans and this high-energy, incident-packed encounter certainly delivered.