The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Correa strike makes it sore point for Liverpool
Anfield: Klopp’ s men have to settle for draw with Sevilla in Europe
Liverpool’s first game in the Champions League since 2014 ended in a draw with Sevilla at Anfield.
In a repeat of the 2016 Europa League final, which the Spaniards won in Basel, Argentine midfielder Joaquin Correa cut through the Liverpool defence and curled home a cool finish to clinch a point.
It had taken Sevilla just five minutes to take the lead as Wissam Ben Yedder tapped in from close range after home defender Dejan Lovren fell over while trying to clear the ball.
Sadio Mane tested visiting goalkeeper Sergio Rico with a low drive as Liverpool looked to get back into the game, and they managed to do so when Roberto Firmino finished off a fine team move from close range.
The five-time winners continued to push forward and were rewarded as Mohamed Salah’s strike looped in via a huge deflection off Simon Kjaer, but then Firmino, presented with the chance to give the home side breathing space, struck a penalty against the post.
Georginio Wijnaldum came close with a low drive in the second half but the English side were punished for not adding to their advantage when they conceded with 18 minutes remaining.
Luis Muriel could have won it for Sevilla in injury time, but shot wide from inside the box, before Reds defender Joe Gomez was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Midfielder Philippe Coutinho, who requested a transfer in the summer, made his first appearance of the season for Liverpool, coming on for Emre Can on 75 minutes.
In the other Group F game, Maribor came from behind with five minutes remaining to draw 1-1 against Spartak Moscow.
Manchester City produced an outstanding performance to open their seventh successive Champions League campaign with an emphatic 4-0 win at Feyenoord.
John Stones headed two goals with Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus also on target as City ran riot at De Kuip to spoil the Dutch champions’ return to the competition after a 15-year absence.
Stones set the tone for a dominant display by claiming the opener in the second minute and the game was effectively over inside 25 minutes as Aguero and Jesus struck.
Stones’ second just after the hour wrapped up the victory and left City looking strong already in Group F ahead of back-toback home games against Shakhtar Donetsk and Napoli. It proved a good night to reintroduce Ederson to the action. The goalkeeper played wearing headgear after his nasty collision with Liverpool’s Sadio Mane last weekend but was hardly tested.
“Gomez was dismissed for a second bookable offence”