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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