Anfield denizens sounded like they liked their first, up-close glimpse of Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, but Rubin Kazan denied them a winning start to the German’s era at his new home.
Liverpool and Rubin Kazan drew 1-1 in the UEFA Europa League group stage on Thursday at Anfield. Rubin Kazan snatched an early lead on Marko Devic’s 15th-minute goal, but Oleg Kuzmin’s second yellow card reduced the visitors to 10 players in the 37th minute, and Emre Can eliminated their lead within 60 seconds of his dismissal. Liverpool then dominated the rest of the game but was unable to muster the winning goal against the visitors’ dogged defense.
The result leaves Liverpool in second place in Group B with three points after three games. Liverpool’s draws against Bordeaux, FC Sion and now Rubin Kazan take it into uncharted territory, having opened a European campaign with three consecutive stalemates for the first time.
The Reds did all they needed to do to win the game except score that second goal. They attacked Rubin Kazan at will over the final 50 minutes, but shots either flew straight at goalkeeper Sergey Ryzhikov or missed wide by a foot or, in some cases, inches. What the Reds were missing in invention or accuracy, they made up for with desire to take all three points.
The energy Liverpool showed in Saturday’s draw with Tottenham remained on display, as did their problems creating chances and maintaining defensive focus — at least in the first half hour.
Rubin Kazan weathered Liverpool’s early pressure and struck first. Kuzmin found Devic inside the Liverpool penalty area with a pass over the top of the defense. In one motion, Devic held off Nathaniel Clyne, controlled the ball with his chest and poked a shot past Simon Mignolet to notch a fine opener.
Kuzmin’s red card then tilted the game in Liverpool’s favor, making it difficult to gauge exactly what progress Liverpool made in week two of Klopp’s tenure. Rubin Kazan played cautiously before Kuzmin’s exit. The Russian club bunkered down after its captain headed for the tunnel … but Can scored before Rubin Kazan set itself for the long haul.
Philippe Coutinho lofted a free-kick into Rubin Kazan’s penalty area. Divock Origi jumped highest but failed to connect with the attempted header. Fortunately, the ball deflected off Blagoy Georgiev and fell straight to Can at the far post. The German midfielder-turned-defender-turned-midfielder again simply tapped the ball into the gaping goal and celebrated his first strike for the Reds in nearly 12 months.
Klopp has deployed Can in his preferred central midfield position with great effect. The 21-year-old was a positive physical force throughout, seemingly feeding off fans’ encouragement. The same goes for defender Mamadou Sakho and playmaker Adam Lallana, who also delivered notable performances.
Liverpool was in firm control of proceedings by halftime. Klopp then added stability, power and guile in the form of substitutes Lucas Leiva and fit-again Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino, and the Reds’ attack grew increasingly forceful as the game progressed. Benteke hit the post in the 80th minute. Firmino, Can, Benteke and others then came close with a flurry of shots and corner kicks in the closing stages.
While the lively Liverpool probably would have scored the winner given more time to play, Klopp’s promising Anfield debut ultimately served as a teaser for a brighter future … and a continuation of current frustration.
Thumbnail photo via Jon Super/The Associated Press
