Jurgen Klopp Rues ‘Missing Two Percent’ In LFC-Rubin Kazan Europa League Draw

Jurgen Klopp felt Liverpool were missing the “decisive two per cent” after Rubin Kazan weathered a wave of attacks to claim a 1-1 Europa League draw at Anfield on Thursday night.

The Russian visitors threatened to ruin the manager’s first home game when Marko Devic crept in behind the defense and clipped around the reach of Simon Mignolet for the opener on 15 minutes.

But within seconds of Rubin being reduced to 10 men later in the half, Divock Origi nodded down a dangerous free-kick, and Emre Can swept in an equalizer from just yards out.

The Reds peppered the opposition goal throughout the second period, and Christian Benteke went closest with a side-footer against the post, but a winner eluded them.

FC Sion’s victory in Bordeaux in the evening’s other Group B game leaves Klopp’s team in second place, trailing the Swiss leaders by four points at the halfway stage.

“It wasn’t a boring game,” the manager reflected. “It was a very interesting game, a big challenge because of the quality of Rubin Kazan.

“So I would say 98 percent OK, not perfect, but the last two percent — the decisive per cent — we missed. That was the problem this evening.

“Tonight wasn’t a masterclass but it’s not the worst day in my life. In the next game we have to work hard –- that’s what we did tonight -– and we’ll go on like that.”