Liverpool were denied a late winner by the VAR as they ended their Champions League group campaign with a draw.

Despite taking an early lead in Denmark, Jurgen Klopp's side played out a 1-1 draw with Midtylland.

With top spot already assured, the likes of Kostas Tsimikas, Takumi Minamino and Leighton Clarkson were included in the Liverpool starting XI.

Just 56-seconds had elapsed when the 2019 winners took the lead.

Mo Salah capitalised on a slack backpass, bore down on goal and stabbed the ball past Midtylland keeper Jesper Hansen.

Liverpool lead after less than a minute! 🔴

Mo Salah with a bit of an unusual goal. 🤭#FCMLIV | #UCL | #VMSport pic.twitter.com/nYLXkn4zEy

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) December 9, 2020

Hansen was kept busy throughout the first period, twice denying Liverpool livewire Diogo Jota. Divock Origi also had a gilt-edged chance to double the Reds' lead but fluffed his lines.

His opposite number was also called into action to keep Liverpool noses in front.

Caoimhin Kelleher was starting a third consecutive game for the Merseysiders, and pulled off a fine first have save to keep out a Awer Mabil chance.

Kelleher was again at the centre of the action on the hour mark as the Corkman conceded a penalty. Alexander Scholz converted, despite the keeper going the right way.

Midtjylland are level!

Alexander Scholz with the penalty past Caoimhín Kelleher.#FCMLIV | #UCL | #VMSport pic.twitter.com/ZQ0exoKYxA

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) December 9, 2020

Captain Jordan Henderson, Andy Robertson and Sadio Mane were all introduced as Liverpool chased a winner in the closing stages.

However, Midtylland tails were up with VAR denying a goal for offiside, while an Evander header flew over the bar with just two minutes of normal time remaining.

A minute later, VAR was again called into action.

Takumi Minamino thought he'd scored a late, late winner. But the linesman's flag was raised, eventually leading to a pitchside review.

A handball was given against Mane in the build-up, and Liverpool had to settle for a draw.

Another decent save from Caoimhín Kelleher keeps it at 1-1!#FCMLIV | #UCL | #VMSport pic.twitter.com/iW5fVec23T

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) December 9, 2020

"A difficult game for us, it was always going to be difficult," captain for the night Trent Alexander-Arnold said afterwards, "We expected that – it was difficult at Anfield when we played them a few weeks ago.

"It's obviously a bit disappointing [as] we wanted to come here and win and weren't able to do that."

He added, "We faced a good team who, looking at the group stage, you probably wouldn't expect to be as good as they are with their amount of points.

"But respect to them – a really good team. [In the second half] they had the momentum, they controlled the game better than us. They kept the ball better and always attacked really well."

Joining Liverpool in the last-16 will be Atalanta.

The Serie A side finished second in Group D as a late Luis Muriel goal gave them a 1-0 win at Ajax.

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