Liverpool vs. Sevilla, Champions League 2017: Reds frustrate their way to 2-2 draw

It was a magnificent performance for Liveprool against Sevilla in their first Champions League match of the season — except for two massive and crucial defensive mistakes that gifted Sevilla a pair of easy goals. Those two goals plus a missed penalty from Roberto Firmino meant that Liverpool threw away what looked like an easy win, ultimately falling to a 2-2 draw and getting just one point out of the match.

The match started fairly poorly for Liverpool, with Dejan Lovren getting caught out badly in front of goal, missing a clearance, and getting ruthlessly punished for it by Wissam Ben Yedder, giving Sevilla the lead just five minutes into the game.

But Liverpool responded magnificently, using their prodigious team pace and work rate to start picking Sevilla apart in the final third, and it wasn’t long before that pressure came good. A streaking run from Alberto Moreno left Sevilla’s defense spinning around trying to account for him, and his cross to Firmino was turned in with ease while they tried to keep up.

Fifteen minutes later, it was Mohamed Salah’s turn, with the lightning-quick Egyptian winger instead using his work rate and tenacity to catch Steven N’Zonzi sleeping on the ball in the box, knocking it clear of the big midfielder, then beating everyone to the ball before turning and rifling it home, partly thanks to a big deflection off Simon Kjaer. Liverpool actually could have had two more goals by halftime, but Firmino clanged a penalty off the post, and Moreno had a heavy rip of a shot well saved by Sergio Rico.

The second half was again dominated by Liverpool, with a number of near-miss chances left begging only by poor finishes. There was also an entertaining spell of the second half that saw Sevilla manager Eduardo Berizzo sent off by the referee after twice throwing the ball away from Liverpool’s Joe Gomez when Liverpool had won throw-ins near Berizzo’s technical area. The referee warned him the first time, and didn’t even hesitate to send Berizzo packing after the second in a moment of sheer comedy as the Argentine manager briefly tried to play a “what, who, me?” routine.

But it would be Sevilla celebrating next, with Joaquin Correa managing to slip through a sloppy Liverpool defense, with Lovren again left wearing egg on his face as he failed to do anything to stop Correa before he fired home to level the score. Liverpool would push and push and push for a winner, but they just couldn’t find one, ultimately dropping two crucial Champions League points at home thanks to a poor central defense that was not addressed all summer long.

Liverpool: Loris Karius; Joe Gomez,(red 90’+3) Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren, Alberto Moreno; Emre Can (Philippe Coutinho 76’) Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum; Mohamed Salah (Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 88’), Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane (Daniel Sturridge 84’)

Goals: Firmino (21’), Salah (36’)

Sevilla: Sergio Rico; Gabriel Mercado, Nico Pareja, Simon Kjaer, Sergio Escudero; Guido Pizarro (Pablo Sarabia 45’), Steven N’Zonzi, Ever Banega; Jesus Navas, Sebastien Corchia 83’), Wissam Ben Yedder (Luis Muriel 69’), Joaquin Correa

Goals: Ben Yedder (5’), Correa (72’)