Diao - heading for Liverpool. (Allsport)

By Paul Walker, PA Sport, Daegu.

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Liverpool-bound Salif Diao has a message for his new fans: Don't judge me on my red card, judge me on my goal.

The £5million Liverpool newcomer was sent off for Senegal in their 1-1 Group A clash with Denmark after scoring a wonder goal.

The red card could mean that his World Cup is over if Senegal do not qualify and get through the next phase into the quarter-finals.

After his bitter-sweet contribution to a fine match of great contrasts, Diao said: "I just pray now that my colleagues can keep us in the tournament so it's not the end of the World Cup for me, and the end of Liverpool fans being able to watch me."

The deals for Diao, from Sedan and El Hadji Diouf - a £10million signing from Lens - will be done and dusted by the time this tournament is over.

"We have signed contracts and we will both be moving to Liverpool," Diao claimed.

And now Diao has demonstrated just what he can do. He said: "I was delighted with my goal, it was perfect. I hope it was a message to the Liverpool fans, I hope they were watching and they were able to see what I can do.

"I am thinking about them and my move to their club all the time. It was good to score like that.

"It was also a shame that they saw me get sent off. I am very upset about that, I felt the decision was harsh because I was going for the ball.

"What is annoying is that during the game some Danish players did worse things and didn't get any cards. They were kicking and that was more dangerous than anything I did."

He added: "The point is that now I will miss two games, I just have to pray that my team can still give me more matches in the World Cup because I will not be able to play now until the quarter-finals.

"If I am not in the team there are a lot of good players who can come in and do what is needed.

"I'd like Liverpool fans to realise that I can do better than in some periods of this game. Before the World Cup I was injured for a month with my club so it has taken me all this time to get myself fit, and I'm not 100% yet, maybe still only 75%.

Senegal were behind at the break after former Newcastle striker John Dahl Tomasson's penalty, and Diao's performance helped inspire a comeback.

He said: "At half-time we told ourselves we had to play the way we had done to beat France.

"From then on, tactically, we were ok. In that second half we were much better. The job I was doing in front of the back four changed when I had no-one to mark as they fell back so I was able to attack more, and that's where the goal came from."

Sunderland goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen underlined the Danish belief that they can also march into the next phase, a result that will be assured with a point against France in their last match.

But the big keeper was also thankful that he did not have to chase around in searing heat.

He said: "Thankfully I didn't have to run about too much like the rest of the lads. The boys in front of me did so well keeping going.

"It is so hot for us Europeans, the humidity is so bad it takes a lot out of players. Certainly the ones running about! It was a big advantage for Senegal.

"But the lads kept doing what they'd been asked to do, and the red card helped because it came at a time when Senegal had to change the way they were playing and it gave us some breathing space."