Liverpool let early chance to qualify slip in Spain

Turn for worse: Anfield men fail to hold on to three-goal first half lead

SEVILLA 3 LIVERPOOL 3

Liverpool squandered a three-goal half-time lead to throw away the chance of early Champions League qualification as Sevilla netted a 93rd-minute equaliser in Spain.

Famous for their threegoal second-half comeback to win this competition in Istanbul in 2005, the Merseysiders endured the reverse as, having seemingly been coasting towards the knockout stage with a game to spare, they were forced to settle for a point.

Roberto Firmino scored either side of a goal from Sadio Mane in an opening 45 minutes which could not have been better scripted for Jurgen Klopp’s visitors.

However, a worrying wobble saw them concede twice to Wissam Ben Yedder – one a twice-taken penalty – in the 15 minutes after the interval and, with the memory of their Europa League final defeat to the same opposition 18 months ago in a similar manner still raw, Guido Pizarro drilled home an added-time corner.

Maribor’s added-time equaliser against Spartak Moscow opened the door not only for Liverpool to qualify with a match to spare but win the group outright but they did not so much as walk through as blow it off its hinges with

“They Spent the next 45 minutes trying to barricade the hole”

a scintillating first half of football.

They then spent the next 45 minutes desperately trying to barricade the hole they left behind as the half-time introduction of Franco Vazquez sparked Sevilla into life.

It means Liverpool need a point at home to Spartak to now qualify but Sevilla could snatch top spot as they play already-eliminated Maribor. The difference between the two halves was stark as just 90 seconds had passed when Georginio Wijnaldum flicked Philippe Coutinho’s corner to the far post where Firmino stabbed home.

Liverpool stepped up a gear with Jordan Henderson putting Firmino through only for the Brazilian to disappoint with his finish allowing Sergio Rico to turn the shot behind.

The save proved academic as what followed was a virtually identical Coutinho corner, this time flicked on by Firmino for Mane at the far post.

On the half-hour Mane was sent flying down the left leaving defenders trailing in his wake and when his shot was parried Firmino tapped into an empty net, the easiness of the goal matched only by the Brazilian’s cheekiness in converting while looking the other way.

The game seemed out of sight but after their second half woes Liverpool certainly cannot afford another Jeckyll and Hyde performance like this one.