Reds let down again by defensive lapses

Liverpool’s Champions League return did not go entirely to plan as they repeatedly shot themselves in the foot in the home draw with Sevilla.

Goals from Roberto Firmino, who also missed a penalty, and Mohamed Salah appeared to have put them in control after a Dejan Lovren mistake had allowed Wissam Ben Yedder to score after just five minutes.

But with 18 minutes to go the defence switched off and Joaquin Correa nipped in to equalise with only the Spanish side’s second shot on target.

To compound Liverpool’s frustration Joe Gomez was sent off in added time for a second bookable offence.

Most of Liverpool’s success was based around the pace provided on either flank by Sadio Mane and summer signing Salah.

Mane, who starts a threematch domestic ban against Burnley on Saturday, was in scintillating form but his fellow winger was not far behind.

The Senegal international was a menace to Sevilla down Liverpool’s left and in addition to the penalty he won, which Firmino crashed against the post, he created a number of other chances.

It had all looked so good for an hour and even Philippe Coutinho, whose head was turned by the thought of joining Barcelona in the summer, must have been impressed watching from the bench.

It provided the Brazil international, who a month ago handed in a transfer request, with a reminder that, while his current employers may still have some ground to catch up on the Catalan club, when they are at their best they are one of the most exciting sides in Europe.

Coutinho was eventually sent on for the final 15 minutes but he could not find a moment of magic he has so often provided.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was left to bemoan familiar defensive lapses.

Klopp told BT Sport: “For 85, 86 minutes it was a winning performance.

“We had answers for pretty much everything apart from the goals. I have to see them again.

“I was looking for someone to show me them but I couldn’t find anybody so I’ll have to see them again.

“They were the two not so good things but pretty much the rest was good.

“I’m not sure if frustrated is the word, but it’s not cool.

“It’s not what we wanted. I don’t think it’s what we deserved.”

The other game in the group saw Spartak Moscow draw 1-1 at NK Maribor.

Aleksandr Samedov put the Russians ahead before Damjan Bohar equalised five minutes from time.

Mohamed Salah celebrates after putting Liverpool 2-1 up.