Liverpool 2-2 Sevilla: Joaquin Correa's late leveller punishes wasteful hosts
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| Joaquin Correa celebrates equaliser |
Joaquin Correa's late
equaliser denied Liverpool victory on their Champions League return after they
were held to a 2-2 draw by Sevilla at Anfield in their Group E clash on
Wednesday.
Liverpool looked to be
feeling the effects of the weekend thrashing at Manchester City when they
conceded a soft opener early on, allowing Wissam Ben Yedder to tap home five
minutes in.
They were soon level
through Roberto Firmino 16 minutes later, before Mo Salah turned the match on
its head 37 minutes in, as his deflected effort gave Liverpool the lead.
Firmino then should have extended Liverpool's lead from the spot after livewire
Sadio Mane had been felled, but saw his penalty cannon back off the post.
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| Mo Salah celebrates after putting Liverpool in front |
After the break,
Liverpool continued to create and miss chances, and that proved costly as
Correa levelled with 18 minutes to go.
Philippe Coutinho made his return
to the side, but couldn't create a winner, as Joe Gomez's late red card ensured
Liverpool fans headed home frustrated.
The
tension around Anfield was palpable from the off, and it wasn't long before
fans were really fearing the worst, as Sevilla worked the ball well to Sergio
Escudero, he squared into the danger zone, Dejan Lovren completely missed it,
allowing Ben Yedder all the time in the world to tap home.
Liverpool
responded superbly. Mane was denied by a smart save from Sergio Rico, before
Firmino had the hosts level. The football was excellent as Alberto Moreno and
Jordan Henderson played a neat one-two, the Spaniard raced to reach the return,
before squaring for Firmino to tap home.
Emre Can then almost completed
the turnaround immediately after the equaliser, but saw his effort squirm
agonisingly past the post after more scintillating football on the break, but
it wasn't long before Liverpool did have the lead, as Salah worked hard to win
the ball back off Steven N'Zonzi, he shot for goal from 25 yards and found the
net via a huge deflection which took the ball over Rico.
Five
minutes later, and Firmino had the chance to put Liverpool in control after
Nico Pareja had hauled Mane to the floor in the box, but Firmino failed to
convert from the spot.
After the break, Liverpool were
largely untroubled as Sevilla grew more and more frustrated. Their troubles
were compounded as manager Eduardo Berizzo was sent to the stands for throwing
the ball away petulantly.
Chances
continued to come and go, and such profligacy proved costly, as Correa latched
onto a through-ball from substitute Luis Muriel, benefitted from a fortunate
first touch, before steering the ball into the bottom corner.
Coutinho's
introduction failed to inspire the hosts, as they toiled to find that winning
goal, with Gomez's dismissal for a second yellow card in stoppage time adding
to the woe on the red half of Merseyside. Sevilla could have in fact won it
right at the death, but Muriel dragged his effort wide.
Source: Sky Sports
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