Liverpool blow three-goal lead in Spain

Liverpool blew a three-goal lead at Sevilla on Tuesday evening to mean that their qualification to the knockout stages is still unconfirmed.

The Reds were cruising 3-0 after only half an hour courtesy of a blistering display of attacking football as Roberto Firmino grabbed a double either side of a Sadio Mane header, but a second-half brace by Wissam Ben Yedder and a last-gasp equaliser from Guido Pizarro denied Jurgen Klopp's side victory.

Sevilla hadn’t been beaten at Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuan since a 3-1 loss to Juventus in November 2016, but they made a disastrous start as they fell behind after three minutes when Georginio Wijnaldum nodded Philippe Coutinho’s corner into the path of Firmino who was left with a tap in at the back post.

In a carbon copy of the opener, Firmino was allowed space at the near post from another Coutinho corner and he glanced the ball to Mane who doubled Liverpool’s lead with a diving header.

Sevilla’s fragile defence was exposed again when a simple long ball released Mane and although his effort was saved, Sergio Rico could only parry the ball into the feet of Firmino who hammered the ball into an empty net on the half-hour mark.

But Sevilla’s fight back commenced early in the second half as Ben Yedder headed in from Ever Banega’s delivery after Alberto Moreno committed a needless free-kick.

Moreno – who started his career at Sevilla – then conceded a penalty as he tripped Ben Yedder who stepped up to stroke home from the spot with half an hour to play.

It seemed Liverpool had halted the Liga side’s momentum, but disaster struck in injury-time when Pizarro slammed home from a corner to complete a dramatic comeback.

The draw means that Liverpool remain top of Group E, but they will have to wait until they host Spartak on December 6 to secure a place in the last 16 for the first time since 2009.

Individual errors cost Liverpool, again: The Reds were coasting at half time, thanks to a combination of free-flowing attacking football and shambolic defending by Sevilla. But then a number of individual errors crept into their game, the majority committed by Moreno. After a difficult campaign last term, the Spanish full-back has enjoyed a new lease of life of late, but he was to blame for Sevilla's two opening goals. He can't shoulder all of the blame, though. Set-pieces have been the bane of Jurgen Klopp's tenure at Liverpool, and to concede two more in such a crucial game is unforgivable.

Prior to this game, Liverpool had only conceded two goals in seven games but now they are back to square one and Klopp must pick his side up for an important league match with Chelsea on Saturday.

Wissam Ben Yedder (Sevilla) - Liverpool should have known about the French forward's qualities after his goal in the 2-2 draw at Anfield, but the visitors failed to deal with his explosive pace and aerial ability once again and they were duly punished.

Sevilla: Sergio Rico 6, Mercado 6, Geis 6, Lenglet 7, Escudero 7, Pizarro 7, Nzonzi 5, Banega 7, Sarabia 6, Nolito 7, Ben Yedder 8. Subs: Correa 6, Muriel 6, Vazquez 6.

Liverpool: Karius 6, Gomez 7, Lovren 7, Klavan 7, Moreno 4, Henderson 5, Wijnaldum 6, Coutinho 6, Mane 7, Salah 7, Firmino 8. Subs: Milner 5, Oxlade-Chamberlain N/A, Can 6.

3’ - GOAL! LIVERPOOL ARE AHEAD! What a start for the Reds! Coutinho delivers the corner to the near post for Wijnaldum who nods the ball to the back post and Firmino is well positioned to apply the finish.

22’ - GOAL! MANE DOUBLES LIVERPOOL'S ADVANTAGE! Firmino is played through with the goalkeeper, but Rico saves. It matters little as Liverpool score from the subsequent corner as Firmino is left unmarked at the near post and he glances the ball into the path of Mane who heads in at the back post. Very similar to the opener.

30’ - GOAL! FIRMINO NETS LIVERPOOL'S THIRD! Dreadful defending, but the Reds won't care one bit. A simple long ball releases Mane who shows lightning pace to get away from his marker. His shot is saved by Rico but he can only parry the ball into the feet of Firmino who is left with a simple tap-in.

51’ - GOAL! SEVILLA CLAW ONE BACK! Liverpool are punished for Moreno's carelessness as the hosts score from the free-kick. Banega curls in an inviting cross and Ben Yedder is first to react as he glances a header past Karius, into the bottom corner.

60' - GOAL! BEN YEDDER SCORES FROM THE SPOT! The Sevilla forward scores from the spot... but the referee calls for the penalty to be re-taken! Cool as you like though, he sticks the second penalty into the opposite corner and it is 3-2.

90’+ 3 - GOAL! SEVILLA HAVE DONE IT! 3-3!!! With what must be the final kick of the game, Pizarro levels the scores! Liverpool fail to clear from a corner and the ball falls kindly to Pizarro who slots in his second goal of the season from 10 yards out. What a comeback from the Liga side! Oh my word!

Liverpool have let a three-goal lead slip in a competitive match for the first time since May 2014 against Crystal Palace in the Premier League (also 3-3).

Sadio Mané is the eighth different player to score in the Champions League for Liverpool this season; no side have currently had more goalscorers in the competition in 2017-18.

Roberto Firmino has now been involved in six goals in five Champions League appearances this season for Liverpool (four goals, two assists).