Liverpool were once again frustrated despite producing a dominant display, held to a 1-1 draw away to Spartak Moscow in the Champions League.
Spartak Moscow 1-1 Liverpool
Champions League Group Stage, Otkrytiye Arena
September 26, 2017
Goals: Fernando 23′; Coutinho 31′
Jurgen Klopp made three changes to his side for their first away clash in this season’s Champions League, with Sadio Mane returning to join Philippe Coutinho, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino.
But for all of their attacking might, the Reds were undone once again at the back, as Fernando sent a free-kick beyond Loris Karius to put Spartak ahead, with Emre Can poor in the buildup.
Coutinho levelled shortly after following an excellent one-two with Mane, but Liverpool were unable to find the opening for a winner in Moscow.
Here’s how supporters reacted to Liverpool’s 1-1 draw at the Otkrytiye Arena on social media and our forums.
Klopp’s lineup sparked positivity in the support…
Our best XI starting for first time. Should spank Spartak.
— Tom McMahon (@tomjpmac) September 26, 2017
“Wow. The four machines are ready to eat up Moscow’s team.”
– Mohamed Masrawy on Facebook.
Pretty much full strength from Liverpool, there. Looking forward to watching the front 4 play together.
— Colin Spreag (@ColinSpreag) September 26, 2017
Fernando’s free-kick undermined a brilliant start…
Emre playing blind passes pic.twitter.com/8kJjIjjXL0
— Sam McGuire (@SamMcGuire90) September 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/Chris78Williams/status/912756126931980294
“Damn. Was not needed to give that ball Can. Unnecessary we get into situations like these and concede. Bad from Karius as well.”
– Incognito on the forums.
https://twitter.com/TheFNundy/status/912755835855626240
Karius has to do better there
— keith costigan (@KeithCostigan) September 26, 2017
Shouldn't be scoring a free kick there, Clive. pic.twitter.com/dlVFYVzBOy
— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) September 26, 2017
“So sick of hearing a commentator say ‘Liverpool should be up’ and ‘against the run of play’. Have to stop this.”
– kiwiredman on the forums.
https://twitter.com/jacklusby_/status/912756065036652546
But Coutinho’s brilliant leveller eased the tension…
????… come on boys!
— Joe Gomez (@J_Gomez97) September 26, 2017
Wow Coutinho!!!!
— Sai (@TheEngancheRole) September 26, 2017
“Quality equaliser.”
– cynicaloldgit on the forums.
????Coutinho give and go with Mane. Power finish. 1-1
— keith costigan (@KeithCostigan) September 26, 2017
Typical of us again?fantasticly well worked goal?
— John Aldridge (@Realaldo474) September 26, 2017
Yes! Two in two for Coutinho.
— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) September 26, 2017
“Beautiful one-two. It’s been coming. Great composure with the shot to not rush it”
– StrongINTheAir on the forums.
Cracking goal from Coutinho to level things for Liverpool. Surprised someone didn't try and buy him in the summer.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 26, 2017
The half-time verdict was mixed…
the goals will come if we continue to dominate like this, every mistake is punished at this level so need to be a bit more 'streetwise'?
— Dinesh Kumar (@DHardayal) September 26, 2017
Story of Liverpool's season so far. Attack, create chances, fail to score and concede. So predictable. So frustrating. So disappointing.
— Paul Grech (@paul_grech) September 26, 2017
The half time shot map.
Liverpool FC, ladies and gentlemen. pic.twitter.com/xsDLoVi6eV— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) September 26, 2017
How do you not score from this situation? pic.twitter.com/2oBNY6uscD
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) September 26, 2017
“Half time substitutions please. Can out Milner in. Firmino out Sturridge in.”
– GTA_G20 on the forums.
Emre is playing is like he wants Liverpool to withdraw their contract offer.
— Joseph Cousins (@JCuzzy1) September 26, 2017
Can & Firmino have both been poor throughout that half for different reasons. On 55mins I'd bring on Sturridge & Milner (yes Milner).
— Red (@TaintlessRed) September 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/TheKopMagazine/status/912763460584443904
Hopes faded with 15 minutes to play…
Liverpool just seem to have lost focus in this game. Happens too often.
— Jonathan Northcroft (@JNorthcroft) September 26, 2017
Players have run out of ideas. Relying on Phil magic or pressing them into mistake.
— Joseph Cousins (@JCuzzy1) September 26, 2017
“Man, those guys suck. Packed in the box like sardines and flopping at every touch. Need to be careful of the sucker punch but we’ve been so much better than a draw would be disappointing despite it actually being a positive result.”
– NYRhockey on the forums.
We need to be beating these
— Tom McMahon (@tomjpmac) September 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/Chris78Williams/status/912773742421569536
Sturridge missed a sitter late on…
What a miss by Sturridge. Omg
— Red (@TaintlessRed) September 26, 2017
Sturridge. What you doing.
— Sam McGuire (@SamMcGuire90) September 26, 2017
There's nothing Klopp can do about this finishing from so many individuals. Players have to take the blame.
— Henry Jackson (@HenryJackson87) September 26, 2017
And the final whistle blew for a frustrating stalemate…
Frustration everywhere for Liverpool but, again, it isn’t a terrible result. A draw away in Europe, come on. Top two all that matters.
— Karl Matchett (@karlmatchett) September 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/TheKopMagazine/status/912779901186531328
“One point away isn’t too bad to be fair, at least it keeps us in the contest. But providing we can beat Maribor home and away, the game against Moscow at Anfield will be the final for second place. Sevilla will win the group hands down.”
– Hope in your heart on the forums.
All LFC but have to turn that dominance into goals. Didn't create as much in 2nd half
— keith costigan (@KeithCostigan) September 26, 2017
What an absolutely bizarre game.
— Tom McMahon (@tomjpmac) September 26, 2017
Liverpool will be fine because they're in a Europa League group but that was underwhelming.
— Jonathan Northcroft (@JNorthcroft) September 26, 2017
“How can they be so bad in a pretty easy group so far?”
– Ahmed Hussain on the forums.
Not the end of the world but for once you can't say it was defending that let #LFC down. It was the finishing, and it's becoming a trend.
— Angry Bosnian Fan (@AngryBosnianFan) September 26, 2017
I'm finding it hard viewing at the minute!battered them!SO FRUSTRATING!If we can't get through this group,we've got problems.
— John Aldridge (@Realaldo474) September 26, 2017
Too often this season #LFC have gone away thinking "we should have won that". Far too often to blame it on bad luck.
— Paul Grech (@paul_grech) September 26, 2017
“20 shots and 1 goal. We really need to sort out our finishing and final 3rd pass!”
– lfc.eddie on the forums.
We will not get an away game as easy as that all season long.
— Joseph Cousins (@JCuzzy1) September 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/Chris78Williams/status/912779795162914816
Four clear-cut chances tonight. You'd absolutely take that up front. Yet another missed opportunity.
— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) September 26, 2017
“Terrible finishing. Squandering chances. Slow buildup. Toss.”
– redyukka on the forums.
Some of the misses today by Firmino, Salah & even Sturridge our best finisher were incredible. Literally no words.
— Red (@TaintlessRed) September 26, 2017
Every single forward lost their composure in front of goal today, Spartak were the worst team we've faced all season.
— Tom McMahon (@tomjpmac) September 26, 2017
https://twitter.com/Chris78Williams/status/912782180635627522
Rafa Benitez & Newcastle up next. Not had much luck there over recent years. We're gonna need it on Sunday & a performance. On we go ?
— L4 (@L4Kop10) September 26, 2017
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