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Attendance: 52,332
Liverpool logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Sep 13, 2017 at 7.45pm UK
 
Sevilla logo

2-2

Firmino (21'), Salah (37')
Gomez (94')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Ben Yedder (5'), Correa (72')

Live Commentary: Liverpool 2-2 Sevilla - as it happened

Relive the 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Sevilla as Jurgen Klopp's side are held to a draw at Anfield on their Champions League return.
2

Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw on their first Champions League appearance since 2014 this evening as Sevilla came from behind to earn a point at Anfield.

The Spanish visitors broke the deadlock after just five minutes through Wissam Ben Wedder, who capitalised on some calamitous Liverpool defending to stroke the ball home from close range.

Goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah swung the match back in Liverpool's favour, but a missed penalty from Firmino shortly before half time proved to be costly when Joaquin Correa earned a point for his side with less than 20 minutes remaining.

Find out how all of the action unfolded courtesy of Sports Mole's minute-by-minute coverage below.


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Good evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as Liverpool host Sevilla in their Champions League Group E opener!

It promises to be a raucous occasion as European football returns to Anfield, with the stadium having not seen a Champions League match for almost three years. Jurgen Klopp's side have been handed a difficult start, though, with Sevilla the favourites alongside the Reds to qualify from the group and reach the last 16.

Tonight's match could have a telling impact on who goes on to win the group, but before we take a closer look let's first check out the team news...


LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Karius; Gomez, Lovren, Matip, Moreno; Wijnaldum, Can, Henderson; Salah, Mane, Firmino

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Mignolet, Milner, Coutinho, Sturridge, Klavan, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Robertson

SEVILLA STARTING XI: Sergio Rico; Mercado, Pareja, Kjaer, Escudero; Pizarro, N'Zonzi, Banega; Navas, Ben Yedder, Correa

SEVILLA SUBS: Corchia, Carrico, Krohn-Dehli, Soria, Sarabia, Muriel, Vazquez

What can we make of those two teams, then?

Well, the headline news from the Liverpool camp is that Philippe Coutinho returns to the squad for tonight's game, but is made to wait for his first club start of the season. The Brazilian starts on the bench this evening and could well be handed his first minutes of the campaign having missed all six of Liverpool's outings so far with a back injury.

That is only half of the story, though, with Coutinho submitting a transfer request last month in a bid to push through a move to Barcelona, which never materialised in the end. Coutinho has already featured - and scored - for his country this season, leading some to claim that his back injury was not as bad as he was making out to Liverpool, but he is finally back in the squad tonight.

Jurgen Klopp celebrates with Philippe Coutinho after the Premier League game between West Ham United and Liverpool on May 14, 2017© SilverHub


Instead of welcoming Coutinho back into the side, Klopp opts to stick for the same front three which started against Manchester City and actually looked to have the beating of Pep Guardiola's side before Mane was controversially sent off for his challenge on Ederson.

Mane is able to start again this evening as his suspension only applies to domestic duties, so it makes sense for Klopp to include him in Europe to keep his fitness up and to allow him to rest others knowing that his team will not be weakened in the process. Also in that front three, alongside Mane and Firmino, is Mohamed Salah, who has scored three goals in six games since joining Liverpool and began his Anfield career in perfect fashion by winning the club's Player of the Month award for August.


The midfield three is also unchanged for the hosts tonight as Wijnaldum, Can and Henderson once again patrol the middle of the park. It looks to be Klopp's preferred trio at the moment, although things might change once Coutinho is really back in the fold and Adam Lallana returns from injury.

Deadline-day signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also competing for a central midfield role, but he is again forced to wait for his first start in a Liverpool shirt as he only makes the bench this evening.


All three of Liverpool's changes for tonight's game come in defensive areas, including between the sticks as Loris Karius replaces Mignolet - just as Klopp said would be the case yesterday. Karius has already been handed one start this season - in the 4-0 thrashing of Arsenal - and while Mignolet could hardly be blamed for Liverpool falling to such a heavy defeat at the hands of Man City on Saturday, he has paid the price and must watch on from the bench tonight.

Joe Gomez also comes into the side in place of Alexander-Arnold at right-back, while Dejan Lovren returns alongside Matip in the middle. Moreno - a Seville boy who made 62 appearances for the club before his move to Liverpool - makes up the back four.


As for the visitors, their main danger man this evening is likely to be Wissam Ben Yedder, who has started the season in fine form. He has three goals in his last four appearances for the club, including one in each leg of the playoff Sevilla required to reach the group stages.

The striker once again leads the line for Sevilla tonight and will be looking to make the most of any chances this Liverpool defence might give up.


Ben Yedder will be supported by a familiar face in Jesus Navas - the former Man City man who Liverpool full-back Moreno hailed as an "idol" during the build-up to this match. Navas developed a reputation for lacking end product on too many occasions during his time in the Premier League, but there is no doubt that he possesses the attributes to trouble the defence, and he may be especially looking forward to face Moreno - who can sometimes forget about his defensive responsibilities - and Gomez, who is inexperienced at this level.

Another familiar face for Liverpool will be former Stoke City midfielder Steven N'Zonzi, who scored against the Reds during that infamous 6-1 thrashing at the Britannia Stadium in May 2015 - Steven Gerrard's final game for Liverpool. N'Zonzi stats in the group stages last season were very impressive - only Marco Verratti completed more passes than his 459 - so he will be keen to pick up where he left off tonight.

In all, Sevilla have made five changes to the side which beat Eibar last time out, including switching out both of their centre-backs as Kjaer and Pareja come into the side in place of Carrico and Lenglet. The experienced Ever Banega and Guido Pizarro come into midfield, meanwhile, and Joaquin Correa starts in the front three, taking the place of former Manchester City man Nolito.

There is plenty of talent on both sides, then, and most will be expecting these two teams to occupy that top two spots in Group E at the end of the campaign. Maribor and Spartak Moscow are the other two teams in the group, and if they play at their best then neither of these two sides should have much difficulty with them.

For Liverpool, though, this is a relatively unfamiliar circumstance as they head into the first Champions League campaign since 2014 and just their second in the last nine years. Many of the players at the club will not have tasted Champions League at Anfield before, but there is no doubt that the five-time European champions belong on this stage.


The Reds' most recent Champions League campaign - which came in the wake of the season where they nearly won the Premier League title - will not live too long in the memory. Liverpool needed a last-gasp goal to squeeze past minnows Ludogorets in their opening fixture, and they failed to win any of their next five - against Basel and Real Madrid too - to crash out before Christmas.

The Reds have now won just two of their last 11 Champions League group games - a run which includes six defeats and stretches back to 2009.


Liverpool have won their opening group game in each of their last three Champions League appearances, though, and they certainly have pedigree on their side as a club having lifted the famous trophy on five occasions - more than any other English team. This will be their 10th Champions League campaign overall, and they are bidding to reach the knockout stages for the first time since 2009, when they were eventually eliminated by Chelsea in the quarter-finals.

Liverpool have lost three and won just one of their last five Champions League group games at home, with the only win being a late triumph over Ludogorets in 2014.

You have to go back to March 2009 for Liverpool's last home Champions League win over top-class opposition, when they memorably beat Real Madrid 4-0. In all European competition, though, Liverpool are currently on a six-match winning streak and are unbeaten in 10 - since a 3-0 loss to Real Madrid in October 2014.


The Reds come into this match in good home form across all competitions too, winning their last four outings at Anfield and only losing one of their last 12 in a run which stretches back to January.

This season alone Liverpool have already scored nine goals in their three home games - an average of three per game - although it is the defence which has once again proved to be their Achilles heel overall.


Liverpool have certainly been good entertainment value for the neutral so far this season, scoring 13 goals and conceding 11 in their 16 outings to raise more questions over the lack of balance in the side. Things were going very well before that defeat to Manchester City on Saturday, though, and that result was very much affected by Mane's red card as City ran riot after that.

Liverpool has won seven and drawn two in a nine-match unbeaten streak before the weekend's result, including an run of four on the bounce.


Liverpool are tonight looking to avoid falling to back-to-back defeats for the first time since January, which was also the last time they failed to score in two consecutive matches as they went through a big slump following the turn of the year.

Liverpool have already had a slight taste of Champions League football this season in the playoff, where they beat Hoffenheim 6-3 on aggregate to seal their place in the group stages, but they will be buzzing to have the competition proper back at Anfield tonight.


Whether or not the Sevilla players rise to the occasion or are overawed by it could well have a significant impact on the result tonight, although you'd think that the team has too much experience for it to be the latter. Anfield on a European night is always a special place to be, but Sevilla have very recent history of European glory having won the Europa League three years in a row between 2014 and 2016 - an unprecedented achievement even counting its predecessor the UEFA Cup.

Like Liverpool, Sevilla needed to come through a playoff to make it into the group stages, and they only just scraped through past Turkish surprise package Istanbul Basaksehir over two legs. The La Liga outfit eventually ran out 4-3 winners on aggregate, but it took a goal 15 minutes from time to make it 2-2 in the home second leg and avoid the need for extra time after Sevilla had won the first leg 2-1 away from home.

Sevilla reached the last 16 of this competition last season, but they run ended in England as Leicester ran out 2-0 winners at the King Power Stadium, overturning the 2-1 defeat in the first leg.

Sevilla certainly haven't been the only ones stunned by the Foxes in recent years, but it was still a hugely disappointing result for them as they squandered the chance to make it into the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the very first time in their history.


This is Sevilla fifth Champions League campaign overall and their third in a row, but for manager Eduardo Berizzo it is a brand new experience. This will be his first ever taste of the Champions League, and he could barely have picked a better stadium to take it all in.

Berizzo's only previous experience of European competition of any kind came last season when he led Celta Vigo in the Europa League, taking them all the way to the semi-finals where they were beaten by Manchester United.


It has been a good start to the season domestically for Sevilla, who are unbeaten from their opening three La Liga games to sit third in the table - only behind Barcelona and Real Sociedad, both of whom have perfect records after three outings.

It is still too early to draw any conclusions from the league tables, of course, but Sevilla are already two points above both Real Madrid and - perhaps more significantly - Atletico Madrid, who they will be hopeful of catching in third place this season.


Across all competitions Sevilla are unbeaten in five games this season and could keep three consecutive clean sheets in a row for the first time since February tonight - not to mention win three games on the bounce for the first time since March.

Away from home things look to be on the up too; Sevilla were winless in their last seven outings on the road at the end of last season, losing five and drawing just three in that run, but they have won both of their away games so far this term and another tonight would hand them three on the bounce for the first time since March 2015.


Sevilla have also only lost two of their last nine Champions League outings, but away from home it is a different story.

The Spanish outfit have only won one of their last nine away games in the Champions League proper, losing six of those, with that solitary victory coming against Dinamo Zagreb last season. In all European competition, though, Sevilla have only lost one of their last eight away games.


PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Anfield, which means that it is time for a prediction!

This is a very tough one to call as Group E's heavyweights battle it out on the opening matchday. Both sides contain players capable of hurting the opposition, but the atmosphere will be charged into the stadium tonight and that should help to spur the Liverpool players on. The hosts may be coming off the back of a heavy defeat, but they were the better side before Mane's red card and - if they keep their full complement tonight - we're backing them to return to winning ways.

Sports Mole says: Liverpool 2-0 Sevilla


These two sides have only ever met once before, and that was in the 2016 Europa League final at St Jakob Park in Basel.

Liverpool looked to be on course for victory and a return to the Champions League when Daniel Sturridge gave them the lead in some style 10 minutes before half time, but Sevilla took control in the second half with a goal seconds after the restart before Coke added two more to seal a 3-1 triumph - and a third consecutive Europa League crown for Sevilla.


Liverpool have won three of their last four home games against Spanish opposition, with the only exception being a 3-0 loss to Real Madrid in October 2014. However, in the Champions League the Reds have only ever won one of the eight visits from a La Liga side, drawing three and losing four. The solitary victory was a memorable one though as they thrashed Real Madrid 4-0.

Overall, Liverpool's record against Spanish clubs reads 14 wins, 10 draws and 11 defeats from 35 meetings, including a very mixed record of five wins, six draws and five defeats at home.

Sevilla, on the other hand, have lost all three of their previous Champions League visits to England and are winless in five visits in all European competition - the last three of which have all ended in defeat.


Right, the players are out on the pitch and the UEFA anthem is set to make this Champions League return feel very real for Liverpool. A reminder of the team news before we get started, as the Liverpool fans belt out You'll Never Walk Alone...

LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Karius; Gomez, Lovren, Matip, Moreno; Wijnaldum, Can, Henderson; Salah, Mane, Firmino

SEVILLA STARTING XI: Sergio Rico; Mercado, Pareja, Kjaer, Escudero; Pizarro, N'Zonzi, Banega; Navas, Ben Yedder, Correa


KICKOFF: Here we go, then! Liverpool get us underway as Champions League football returns to Anfield!

SAVE! Quick start from the home side as Salah pings a long ball across field for Mane, who skips past one man before playing it inside to Firmino. The Brazilian knocks it back for Can, who curls an effort into the arms of the keeper.

Mane again makes his way down the left flank for the second time in the opening two minutes, reaching the byline before playing a low ball into the box which is collected by the keeper. The Senegal winger has made a very bright start!

UPDATE: It has been a quick start from Liverpool - but not as quick as the other two English clubs in action tonight.

Manchester City have already taken the lead against Feyenoord through John Stones, while Tottenham have got an early goal against Dortmund at Wembley too - Son scoring for Pochettino's side.


GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Sevilla (Wissam Ben Yedder)

It is a nightmare start for Liverpool as Sevilla take the lead within five minutes - right in front of the Kop. It will be particularly hard to take as it was utterly avoidable from Liverpool's point of view too.

Can makes the first error when he fails to clear his lines, while Gomez also cannot deal with the danger once the ball is sent out to the left. The subsequent low cross into the area should then be cleared by Lovren, but he allows the ball to squirm under his boot and Ben Yedder is left with the simplest of tap-ins from a couple of yards out.

Catalogue of errors from Liverpool.


CLOSE! Almost an immediate response from Liverpool as Emre Can goes for goal from the edge of the box and his effort deflects off a defender and bounces narrowly wide.

Mane wants - and should have - a free kick right on the edge of the box having been blocked off by Pareja, but the referee bizarrely says no. It may well have been a penalty as it was right on the edge of the area, which perhaps dissuaded the referee from making the decision.

CHANCE! Liverpool have responded really well to going behind here, and they almost level things up here. This time it is a defensive error from Kjaer which creates the chance as he fails to take the ball when challenging Salah, who skips to the byline before pulling it back. His cross takes a deflection into Mane, whose first-time low drive is well saved by Rico.

CHANCE! Another chance for Liverpool, this time from a corner as Firmino rises highest in the area before rippling the top of the net with his header.

UPDATE: There were plenty of goals in the Champions League last night, and it has started that way again this evening.

Manchester City are already two goals to the good away to Feyenoord, with Aguero adding to Stones's opener, but there is worse news for Spurs as Yarmolenko has equalised for Dortmund at Wembley. Elsewhere, Cristiano Ronaldo has given Real Madrid the lead, while Besiktas are ahead against Porto.


Liverpool apply more pressure as Matip lopes his way up the field and into the box, but Salah delays the cross before giving the ball back to Gomez, whose eventual delivery is overhit.

Almost a glimpse for Liverpool as Sevilla pick up the second ball from a long clearance forward, almost allowing Ben Yedder to break into the box. Moreno and Lovren crowd him out eventually, but Liverpool do not look solid at the back whatsoever.

UPDATE: It's all happening at Wembley, where Spurs have regained the lead against Dortmund through Kane.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have a free kick in a good crossing position...


Moreno floats the ball into the area and Matip gets his head to it, but he can't get any power nor steer it goalwards and Sevilla eventually manage to clear the danger.

Liverpool have certainly looked capable of scoring here, but there is always that danger at the back. Sevilla aren't getting into the Liverpool half all too often, but whenever they do it looks dangerous.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Sevilla (Roberto Firmino)

Liverpool have their equaliser, and it is some slick, sharp passing football that sees them level things up for their first Champions League goal of the season!

Moreno is heavily involved against his former club, racing down the left channel and collecting Henderson's precise pass on his way into the box. Moreno reaches the byline before playing a low ball into the middle which Firmino applies the finishing touch to from close range.


CHANCE! Huge chance for Liverpool to make it two goals in as many minutes, but Can cannot apply the finishing touch to a sweeping counter-attack. Salah, Wijnaldum and Mane are all involved in the build-up as Liverpool break with lightning pace, with the latter rolling it into the path of Can. The German only has the keeper to beat, but he rolls his finish narrowly wide of the far post.

UPDATE: Manchester City can't stop scoring at the moment. They are now 3-0 up against Feyenoord through Gabriel Jesus, and it looks to be game over there before the half-hour mark.

Elsewhere, Porto have levelled things up against Besiktas, while Shakhtar Donetsk have taken the lead against Napoli.


We're approaching the half-hour mark in this match now, and it has been a good watch so far. Both teams look dangerous coming forward, and I would be surprised if we have seen the last of the goals in this one.

Liverpool look to hit Sevilla with another counter as Karius comes to claim a corner and immediately releases Mane. Sevilla get back well, though, and the move eventually breaks down when Firmino's attempted pass back to Mane goes out for a goal kick.

The match has hit a bit of a lull in the last couple of minutes, with neither side have made a break forward in that time. Sevilla aren't approaching the match with too much ambition - 1-1 at Anfield is not too bad a result for them, after all - but the shakiness of the Liverpool defence means that they will always carry a threat.

After a decent spell of possession for Sevilla - albeit amongst their defenders - Liverpool win the ball back inside the opposition half. Can drives forward and tries his luck from all of 35 yards, but his powerful effort slams into the body of a defender.

YELLOW CARD! The first card of the night is shown to Mercado, who caught Firmino on the heel very late.

GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Sevilla (Mohamed Salah)

This one may go down as an own goal, but Liverpool will not care how it came as they take the lead at Anfield!

It is good work from Salah as he works back to win possession off N'Zonzi, although Sevilla feel that the winger fouled his man. Salah wastes no time waiting for confirmation, though, and his low drive takes a huge deflection off Kjaer before looping in past the helpless Rico.


YELLOW CARD! Moreno may have upped his game this season, but there are still reckless elements in him for sure. He shows that here, steaming into a challenge full pelt and arriving late to pick up one of the clearest bookings you will see.

YELLOW CARD! Ever Banega was also carded in the immediate aftermath of the goal for his complaints about the perceived foul on N'Zonzi.

PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!

MISSED! (Roberto Firmino)

Liverpool have a golden chance to give themselves a cushion and take a stranglehold of this game just before half time, but Firmino squanders it!

The penalty itself is an easy decision for the referee, who could have actually given it for one or two indiscretions. Mane flicks the ball inside Pareja, who initially handles it but then makes sure that the ref will point at the spot by hauling Mane to ground inside the area too.

Firmino takes on the spot-kick duties, but despite sending the goalkeeper the wrong way his effort crashes against the post. Could that prove to be a big moment in this game?


Moreno makes another marauding run down the left flank and this time delivers a brilliant ball across the face of goal which goes all the way through to safety. That only needed a touch!

SEVILLA SUB: Sevilla are forced into a change before half time as Pablo Sarabia replaces the injured Pizarro.

There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this first half.

As that is being announced over the speakers Wijnaldum nutmegs Sarabia inside the box, but his subsequent cross is deflected behind for a corner.


CHANCE! Almost a third for Liverpool right on the stroke of half time! It is another lightning break from the hosts, who really are frightening when they are in full flow. Salah gives it to Firmino, who in turn plays it into the path of Moreno, but the Spanish full-back is denied by a very smart save from the keeper.

HALF TIME: Liverpool 2-1 Sevilla

The referee brings a brilliant first half to an end at Anfield, and it is Liverpool who go into the break ahead having come from behind against Sevilla.

Liverpool have been scintillating at times going forward, but their defensive frailties were laid bare for the opening goal and that will give Sevilla hope that there is still a way back into this match. Liverpool will want another goal to make sure, and they have certainly looked capable of getting one on the evidence so far.


Liverpool were behind within five minutes of their return to the Champions League, and it was a catalogue of errors which led to the goal. Can was the first who missed the chance to clear the danger, but the main mistake came from Lovren as he allowed a low cross from the left to slip under his foot when trying to clear. It was a howler from the centre-back, and he was duly punished by an unmarked Ben Yedder behind him, who applied the simple finish from close range.

Liverpool responded quickly, though, and they had the equaliser before the midway point in the half as Firmino also scored a simple tap-in to level things up. This time it was good work from Moreno which created it, playing a one-two with Henderson before playing a low ball into the box for Firmino to roll over the line.

The goal which gave Liverpool the lead had no small element of luck about it, with Salah winning possession off N'Zonzi before firing a long-range effort towards goal which took a huge deflection off Kjaer and looping past the helpless keeper. There was some controversy regarding it too, with Sevilla calling for a foul against Salah for the challenge on N'Zonzi.

KICKOFF: Sevilla get us back underway for the second half at Anfield. More of the same, please!

Sevilla come forward down the right flank and another low cross makes it further into the box than it should be allowed to before Matip eventually cleans up. The hosts need that second goal to give them some insurance in this one, as the defence really does not look sturdy tonight.

UPDATE: Real Madrid have scored the first second-half goal of tonight's Champions League games, and there are no prizes for guessing who got it. Cristiano Ronaldo scores from the spot to match Messi's tally for last night. Odds on a hat-trick?

No chances to speak of so far in this second half, but Liverpool are on the front foot again and pushing for that third goal. Sevilla themselves need to take a few more risks in this second half, which should suit Liverpool even more.

Matip channels his inner Messi with a run from the halfway line all the way into the Sevilla box, and he almost makes it all the way to goal before Kjaer nicks the ball with an important challenge.

Sevilla have dealt with those pacy Liverpool attackers better so far in this second half, with Mane, Salah and Firmino unable to pick a way through the defence since the interval.

Can's eyes light up as the ball drops perfectly for him running on to it around 25 yards from goal. It is the type of chance which the likes of Gerrard used to eat up, but Can drills his first-time effort into Firmino. The shot looked to be going wide anyway.

SHOT! Liverpool come forward again as Wijnaldum snakes across field before giving the ball to Salah, who cuts inside onto his left foot before curling an effort high and wide.

UPDATE: Controversy at Wembley! Harry Kane has sent Spurs en route to what would be an impressive victory over Dortmund with his second of the night to make it 3-1, but only after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saw a goal wrongly ruled out for offside. And when I say wrongly, I mean criminally.

There has also been a goal in the other match in this group, with Spartak Moscow taking the lead against Maribor.


Madness from Berizzo as he gets sent from the touchline for throwing the ball away from Gomez have acted like he was giving it to him.

A classic playground trick, of course, but one which sees Berizzo dismissed for the rest of the match as it is the second time he has done it! The manager has done his own side no favours there!


SHOT! Poor from Sergio Rico as he fails to stop a tame Salah volley at the near post, misjudging it and getting a touch that sends it out for a corner which really should not have been.

UPDATE: Two goals from two defenders to update you on, with Sergio Ramos having put Real Madrid 3-0 up and John Stones getting his second of the night for Man City as they take a 4-0 lead over Feyenoord.

SHOT! Firmino is forced to create his own space to shoot here, shifting the ball to his right before drilling a low effort which rolls narrowly wide of the target. The goalkeeper did look to have it covered, though.

YELLOW CARD! Gomez goes into the book for a tug on Correa, who had skipped past the young Liverpool full-back.

CHANCE! That third goal feels like it is getting closer for Liverpool. Salah turns his man well before playing the ball into the path of Mane, who also spins away from his marker and fires an effort a couple of yards over the crossbar.

SAVE! Liverpool knock on the door again as a free kick is only cleared as far as Wijnaldum on the edge of the box, but his snapshot is straight at Rico, who shovels it around the post.

SEVILLA SUB: Sevilla make another change as Luis Muriel comes on in place of Ben Yedder.

GOAL! Liverpool 2-2 Sevilla (Joaquin Correa)

That is always the danger when you don't get that two-goal cushion! Sevilla level things up despite being on the back foot for the vast majority of the match!

Muriel is allowed the space to turn and poke the ball into the path of Correa, who takes advantage of a gaping hole between the two Liverpool centre-backs to drive into the box and curl an accomplished finish into the top corner past Karius. More poor defending from the hosts.


Liverpool now have just over 15 minutes remaining to get a deserved win from this game, but as things stand they will be made to rue missed opportunities.

LIVERPOOL SUB: It's time for the return of Philippe Coutinho, who gets a warm welcome back to Anfield as he replaces Can.

Liverpool win a corner which Lovren rises well to meet in the box, but he can't control his header and it loops harmlessly over the crossbar.

Yet another mistake from Liverpool as Matip makes a mess of a clearance before being beaten by Muriel in little space down the left flank. Nothing comes of it, but these individual errors continue to undermine Liverpool's good work going forward.

Less than 10 minutes remaining now! Liverpool are on the front foot pushing for the winner, as you would expect, but given their defensive performance tonight this match could still very much go either way.

SEVILLA SUB: A third and final change for the visitors as Navas makes way to be replaced by Sebastien Corchia.

LIVERPOOL SUB: Liverpool also make a change, and it is Daniel Sturridge coming on in place of Mane.

Liverpool came up with a quick response to Sevilla's last goal, but this time around they have now found it so easy. The hosts have not been good enough with the final ball in this second half.

LIVERPOOL SUB: A third and final throw of the dice for Klopp, who brings Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on in place of Salah.

There will be a minimum of four minutes added time at the end of this match!

CHANCE! Huge chance for Sevilla to snatch this one late on! One long ball over the top releases Muriel through on goal and he shrugs off Gomez before putting his shot wide when he probably should have scored!

RED CARD! Joe Gomez (Liverpool)

More disappointment for Liverpool late on as Gome picks up a second yellow card and is subsequently dismissed.

FULL TIME: Liverpool 2-2 Sevilla

Ultimately a disappointing start to their campaign and return of Champions League football to Anfield, then, as Liverpool waste a number of chances - including a penalty - to be held 2-2 by Sevilla.

It was the visitors who took the lead after just five minutes through Wissam Ben Yedder, but goals from Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah put Liverpool ahead going into half time. A missed Firmino penalty in the closing stages of the half ultimately proved costly, though, as Joaquin Correa earned a point for Sevilla before Joe Gomez was given a late red card.


Right, that is all we have time for this evening! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as Liverpool are held by Sevilla at Anfield in their first Champions League game since 2014. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. We turn our attention to the Europa League tomorrow night, so check back in with us for live coverage of that. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!

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Jurgen Klopp gestures during the Europa League final between Liverpool and Sevilla on May 18, 2016
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Group A

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QBayern651016
QCopenhagen62228
3Galatasaray61235
4Man Utd61144

Group B

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QArsenal641113
QPSV62319
3Lens62228
4Sevilla60242

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Madrid660018
QNapoli631210
3Braga61144
4Union Berlin60242

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
QReal Sociedad633012
QInter Milan633012
3Benfica61144
4Salzburg61144

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
QAtletico642014
QLazio631210
3Feyenoord62046
4Celtic61144

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
QDortmund632111
QPSG62228
3AC Milan62228
4Newcastle61235

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
QMan City660018
QRB Leipzig640212
3Young Boys61144
4Red Star60151

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
QBarcelona640212
QPorto640212
3Shakhtar63039
4Antwerp61053

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