The Reds held to a draw in Moscow. Was this a good point or two points dropped? On the face of it, it looks like two dropped. Total dominance again – 64% to 36%. Sixteen shots to Spartak’s three. The statistics of the game make for all too familiar reading. All we can hope for is that when everything clicks, somebody is in for a good hiding.
The same question marks surfaced again for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. Although the defence could not be criticised, the goalkeeper on the night, Loris Karius could be. It is puzzling that Klopp has decided to rotate his goalkeepers for the Champions League. If there was an area of the pitch that needs consistency more than anywhere else, then its at the back. It is so important to have a steady, consistent back five. To keep chopping and changing the back five surely means that understandings are not what they should be. Communications must also suffer.
Reds Held To A Draw In Moscow
In the 23rd minute Spartak went ahead against the run of play. Emre Can was caught in possession inside his own half. As a result Coutinho conceded a free-kick outside the area. Fernando curled the set-piece over the wall easily avoiding Karius. The effort did not find the corner, so arguably Karius could have done more.
Much was expected of Liverpool with us fielding the “Fab Four” – forwards Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Coutinho – in the same game for the first time this season. It was the latter two who combined for Coutinho’s superbly finished equaliser.
After that, despite almost total Liverpool dominance, Firmino, Mane and substitute Daniel Sturridge spurned good chances. Consequently, we were forced to settle for a second successive draw in Group E.
Two games in and Liverpool sit two points behind Sevilla. As expected, they beat Maribor. The score being 3-0 to the hosts.
As Jurgen Klopp said, “To create all those chances and only score one goal feels average. It was a crazy game.
“What can I say? We created, created and created. Where is the real point for criticism? We tried with all we had. The effort was great.”
It seems that Klopp is getting increasingly more frustrated with the all too familiar ways in which matches are unfolding. Welcome to our world Jurgen!!
Reds Still Toothless Despite ‘Fab Four’
Like in so many other games this season, Liverpool were the better side throughout. The Spartak goal was under siege for most of the game. We are normally talking about the failures of the defence after such a result and performance. To be fair though, the failure to win a game had nothing to do with the defence.
Sadio Mane came back from his three-match suspension, so Klopp chose to start with his four most potent attacking options. Strangely, Klopp decided to withdraw Mane when he was clearly offering a greater threat than others. Bobby Firmino for example. Chance after chance was spurned and questions are being asked as to whether Bobby Firmino is the man to deliver us goals on a regular basis.
All pie in the sky obviously, but just imagine if we still had Luis Suarez!! All defensive and goalkeeping brain farts could be consigned to after thought comments in the pub after the game. It is hard to imagine that we would fail to put teams away with our mercurial Luis on the end of all those chances. Still, he isn’t here so we have to make do with the striking options we currently have. We can still dream though.
A disappointing result but another encouraging attacking performance. It may not be beyond the realms of possibility to state that when everything clicks, somebody is in for a good hiding. Let’s hope so.
Spartak Moscow 1, Liverpool 1 – The Goals
You can catch the goals from the match here as the Reds Held To A Draw In Moscow
