No magic solution to Reds woes

Sevilla deny Liverpool winning return to CL

LONDON, Sept 14, (AFP): Jurgen Klopp says the transfer market is not the magic solution to Liverpool’s defensive woes after familiar problems returned to haunt his side on their return to Champions League action against Sevilla.

Dejan Lovren’s slip allowed Wissam Ben Yedder to score early in Wednesday’s match at Anfield but goals from Roberto Firmino, who also missed a penalty, and Mohamed Salah appeared to have put the home side in control.

However, with 18 minutes to go the defence switched off and Joaquin Correa equalised. To compound Liverpool’s frustration, Joe Gomez was sent off in added time for a second bookable offence.

The Reds, who lost 5-0 to Manchester City in the Premier League at the weekend, were heavily linked with Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk in the summer but had to publicly withdraw their interest after a tapping-up row.

With Saints refusing to sell at any price it was an area of the team that was not strengthened and defensive lapses – not for the first this season – cost them as Sevilla scored from 100 per cent,” said the Liverpool boss.

“It is disappointment, frustration, but that is completely normal,” he added.

“We are responsible for the very good parts in the game and also the not-so-good parts so you have to feel disappointed after a game like this.”

Klopp claimed he had made peace with opposite number Eduardo Berizzo and the Sevilla coaching staff after a stormy conclusion to Liverpool’s 2-2 Champions League draw with the Spanish side at Anfield.

Young Liverpool defender Joe Gomez was sent off in the dying seconds of the group game, the second ‘dismissal’ of the night after Berizzo had been sent to the stands on the hour for throwing the ball away after Gomez hurried to take a throw-in for the home team.

Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho (left), vies with Sevilla’s Argentinian defender Gabriel Mercado during the UEFA Champions League Group E football match between Liverpool and Sevilla at Anfield

in Liverpool, north-west England on Sept 13. (AFP)