— Sergio Aguero scores on return from injury as Pep Guardiola's side end Champions League group stage on a high
— VAR denies Liverpool winner in final Champions League group game
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| Image: Sergio Aguero celebrates after scoring City's second goal |
Sergio Aguero marked his return from injury with a goal as Manchester City rounded off their Champions League group campaign with a 3-0 win over Marseille at the Etihad Stadium.
The 32-year-old, who has been recovering from knee surgery this season and suffered a setback against Olympiakos two weeks ago, poked home from close range (77) after coming on as a second-half substitute for only his fifth appearance of the campaign.
Earlier in the half, Ferran Torres had opened the scoring with his fourth Champions League goal of the season when he slid home from a deflected Riyad Mahrez pass (48) as City, who were already guaranteed top spot in Group C, swiftly put a subdued first-half showing behind them.
Raheem Sterling, another second-half substitute, then rounded off the victory with a close-range finish of his own (90) after a low cross from Torres had bounced into his path off Marseille defender Alvaro Gonzalez.
The victory was ideal preparation for Saturday's Manchester derby, with Pep Guardiola able to make nine changes from the side that faced Fulham in City's last game, handing a Champions League debut to back-up goalkeeper Zack Steffen as they made it five wins from six group games.
City's much-changed side dominated possession from the outset and should have taken the lead in the eighth minute, when Fernandinho forced a turnover deep in Marseille territory and Bernardo Silva played in Mahrez.
The Algerian steadied himself with only Steve Mandanda to beat, but the Marseille goalkeeper made a fine save, blocking his low, left-footed effort with an outstretched boot.
City continued to pin Marseille back and went close again just four minutes later, when a wicked free-kick from Ilkay Gundogan was headed narrowly over the bar by Aymeric Laporte.
It seemed only a matter of time until the hosts made the breakthrough at that point, but Marseille soon began to improve, forcing some chances of their own.
Valere Germain diverted a free header wastefully wide from an excellent Dimitri Payet cross, and Payet then had a superbly-taken goal ruled out for offside after Phil Foden had lost possession in City's half.
Opta stats: City progress with record haul
Manchester City have now progressed as group winners in each of their last four Champions League campaigns. They amassed 16 points this season - the joint-most by an English side in the competition along with Arsenal in 2005-06, Manchester United in 2007-08 and Tottenham in 2017-18.
Among Spanish players, only Raúl (eight) scored more Champions League goals before turning 21 than Manchester City's Ferran Torres (six, level with Cesc Fà bregas).
Manchester City conceded just one goal in the Champions League group stages this season, the joint-fewest by any side in a single group stage in the competition and the fewest by an English side in the group stage since Manchester United in 2010-11.
Midtjylland 1-1 Liverpool
Mohamed Salah scores the fastest Champions League goal for Liverpool after 55 seconds; the forward (22) had overtaken Steven Gerrard (21) to become Liverpool's all-time leading European goalscorer; Takumi Minamino's late goal is ruled out for handball in the build-up
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| Image: Mohamed Salah celebrates after his early goal for Liverpool |
A much-changed Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by Midtjylland in their final Champions League Group D game after VAR denied Takumi Minamino a late winner.
Liverpool had already been confirmed as group winners and Jurgen Klopp made eight changes, naming the Reds' youngest ever starting XI in the competition (24 years and 26 days), including a Champions League debut to 19-year-old Leighton Clarkson.
But it was one of the senior players that put them ahead when Mohamed Salah slotted home through goalkeeper Jesper Hansen's legs after 55 seconds - scoring Liverpool's fastest Champions League goal.
But Midtjylland - who have already finished bottom of Group D - pushed for an equaliser, especially after the break, and were gifted the breakthrough when VAR awarded them a penalty. Caoimhin Kelleher was penalised for sending Anders Dreyer over with a stray leg and, after a lengthy review, Alexander Scholz (62) powered the spot-kick home.
Klopp threw on his big guns as the game went on and Liverpool thought they had scored the winner when Minamino poked home in the 89th minute, but VAR was there again to rule it out for handball against Sadio Mane in the build-up.
Salah almost made it two after he collected a lovely, chipped pass from Minamino, but his strike was saved by Hansen at the near post with the offside flag also raised. The goalkeeper denied Liverpool again soon after when he pushed away Diogo Jota's flicked effort from close range.
Man of the match: Fabinho.
Both sides went close just after the half an hour mark. Salah squared the ball for Divock Origi, but the striker slashed his diagonal shot past the far post, showing just a touch of rustiness in only his fourth start of the season. Liverpool had never conceded to a Danish side in the Champions League before Wednesday and had Fabinho to thank for keeping that record intact in the first half. Sory Kaba nodded Dion Cools' right-wing cross goalwards at the back post, but the makeshift defender was there to hack the ball off the line.
It did not look to be Midtjylland's evening when they hit the crossbar early in the second half. Half-time substitute Billy Koumetio's miscued header allowed Evander to strike, but it could only rattle the woodwork. Kaba then tried his luck with an overhead kick, but it went just wide of the post. The striker went close again soon after, but his header from Paulinho's lofted cross also missed the target.
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Liverpool made eight changes - Caoimhin Kelleher, Fabinho and Mohamed Salah kept their places, while Naby Keita, Takumi Minamino and Divock Origi came in up front.
Trent Alexander-Arnold also returned and captained Liverpool for the first time. Leighton Clarkson, 19, also made his Champions League debut in midfield.
But there was VAR controversy to come as Midtjylland were awarded a penalty in the 61st minute. Dreyer was initially played through with a long pass and was sent over by a dangling Kelleher leg as he stretched himself to make the save. The linesman's flag was initially raised for offside, but VAR reviewed the incident and found that Dreyer was, in fact, onside in the build-up.
The next question hinged on whether Kelleher had fouled the midfielder and after the referee consulted the pitchside monitor, he awarded a penalty and the Liverpool goalkeeper was booked. Scholz confidently dispatched the spot-kick past Kelleher for his second Champions League goal of the season.
Alexander Scholz celebrates scoring a penalty for Midtjylland against Liverpool
Image: Alexander Scholz scored the equalising penalty for Midtjylland
Despite the introduction of a raft of Liverpool stars, it was Midtjylland who looked the more likely to score next. In fact, they did have the ball in the back of the net in the 77th minute, but Scholz's second of the evening was correctly ruled out for offside after another VAR intervention.
The technology was not done there either as Minamino was denied a late winner. Mane nodded down Jordan Henderson's cross, which the forward slotted home, but the linesman had his flagged raised. VAR stepped in and eventually disallowed the goal for handball against Mane, deeming his header hit his own arm before a defender's in the build-up as the game ended all square.
Man of the match - Fabinho
Yes, Fabinho only played 45 minutes but it was his absence in the second half that really demonstrated just how vital he was to a young Liverpool defence.
The Brazil international was there to make crucial blocks (1), interceptions and clearances (5) through the first half. This was epitomised when he cleared off the line from Kaba's header. Credit must also go to Rhys Williams at centre-back too, who again looked assured in that position.
Fabinho was replaced by debutant Billy Koumetio in the second half and despite some good early touches from the 18-year-old, he looked more nervous as the game continued and Midtjylland's attack did not let up. Indeed, they had 15 second-half shots to five in the opening 45 minutes and Fabinho's withdrawal was certainly a big part of that.
With Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez out for much of the season, Fabinho's first-half performance and his noticeable absence after the break demonstrates his huge importance.
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