A sparkling Philippe Coutinho goal was not enough to earn Liverpool victory as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Spartak Moscow in the Champions League on Tuesday. Coutinho cancelled out Fernando’s free-kick in the 31st minute, but Liverpool’s quest for a winner came to nothing, leaving them still without a win after two games in Group E.
Liverpool have now gone seven matches without victory in the Champions League – their longest such run in the competition – and trail group leaders Sevilla by two points. “In this moment we’re not the most lucky team in world football. Things don’t go easy for us,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. Five-time champions Liverpool paid the price for some wasteful finishing, substitute Daniel Sturridge and Mohamed Salah both spurning good chances to secure victory in the closing stages.
On the plus side, Klopp’s men looked more solid defensively than in recent weeks, but Fernando’s goal raised questions about the decision to bring goalkeeper Loris Karius into the team in place of Simon Mignolet.
While Russian champions Spartak have gone nine games without victory in the Champions League, this was a result to warm the hearts of their vocal fans on a chilly night at Otkrytiye Arena.
City cruise again
Kevin De Bruyne’s superb strike and a late Raheem Sterling goal maintained Manchester City’s impressive form in a 2-0 Champions League win over Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday. De Bruyne struck in the 49th minute with a magnificent 20-yard strike into the top right-hand corner of the Shakhtar goal after David Silva’s run had ended with the Spaniard teeing up the opening.
It was the Belgian’s first goal of City’s free-scoring season – a reflection of his new, deeper role under Pep Guardiola – but certainly a goal worth waiting for given its quality. Although City striker Sergio Aguero failed with a penalty, Sterling’s 89th minute finish from 12 yards, after a sprint and cross from fellow substitute Bernardo Silva, spared his team-mate’s blushes and wrapped up the points at Eastlands.
Aguero could have doubled the lead, and equalled City’s club record of 177 goals currently held by Eric Brook in the 1930s, after Leroy Sane was brought down by Ivan Ordets after 71 minutes. But Aguero hit his spot kick too close to goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov who dived smartly to his right to keep out the effort. There might have been more glory for De Bruyne, after another penetrating run down the left from Sane, but this time defender Ismaily managed to block his long-range effort.
De Bruyne almost turned provider after 69 minutes with an enterprising run down the right and perfect cross which substitute Sterling side-footed wide on the volley.