Spartak Moscow v Liverpool – story of the match

The points are shared. pic.twitter.com/BRqX9I3oJc
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 26, 2017

Liverpool’s eight-year wait for an away win in the Champions League continued in Russia as Jurgen Klopp’s much-vaunted ‘Fab Four’ failed to strike the right chord in the 1-1 draw with Spartak Moscow.

The best two of his attacking quartet Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane combined for the Brazilian to equalise Fernando’s free-kick in the first half.

But as a unit there were more misses than hits in their first competitive start together as a second successive draw in the competition made it just three wins in the last 14 group matches and handed the advantage to Sevilla, who lead lead Group E by two points after their win over Maribor.

Tweet of the match

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

Star man

Philippe Coutinho: Pulling the strings from a deeper-than-usual position in midfield, the Brazil international not only provided much of the ammunition for the front three but scored a crucial goal with one moment of quality.

Not the surprise of the match

Loris Karius is beaten by Fernando’s free-kick (Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP)

Liverpool conceding from their first shot on target. They did exactly the same in their opening Champions League match against Sevilla.

Data point

Liverpool’s last away win in the Champions League came against Debrecen in November 2009.

Player ratings

Sadio Mane was a constant threat for Liverpool (Ivan Sekretarev/AP)

Spartak Moscow: Artem Rebrov 7 (out of 10), Andrei Eschenko 5, Serdar Tasci 5, Ilya Kutepov 6, Salvatore Bocchetti 6, Georgi Dzhikiya 6, Aleksandr Samedov 5, Fernando 7, Mario Pasalic 6, Ivelin Popov 6, Luiz Adriano 7. Substitutes: Aleksandr Selikhov (for Rebrov 68) 7, Lorenzo Melgarejo (for Popov 86) 5, Pedro Rocha Neves (for Samedov 90) 4.

Liverpool: Loris Karius 5, Trent Alexander-Arnold: 7, Joel Matip 7, Dejan Lovren 7, Alberto Moreno 6, Jordan Henderson 6, Emre Can 4, Philippe Coutinho 8, Mohamed Salah 6, Roberto Firmino 5, Sadio Mane 8. Substitutes: Georginio Wijnaldum (for Can 73 7, Daniel Sturridge (for Mane 70) 5.

Who’s up next?

Newcastle v Liverpool (Premier League, Sunday October 1)

Source: By PA Sport Staff