Liverpool played out a 1-1 draw with Swiss side FC Sion in Thursday night’s European clash with goals from Adam Lallana and Ebenezer Assifuah.
The result means Brendan Rodgers’ men sit second in their Europa League group on two points, behind Sion with four points, with Liverpool set to take on Rubin Kazan later this month.
The Reds’ fans were in fine voice to welcome out their team to face Sion, who have had a visit to Anfield before – in the European Cup Winners Cup 19 years ago, in which the Reds were victorious 6-3.
Liverpool struck early on in the game after a threatening start. Adam Lallana sent the ball beyond Sion goalkeeper Andris Vanins in the third minute following a cross from Divock Origi, who looked bright during the first 45 minutes.
Rodgers’ men were the dominant side throughout much of the first half but Sion grabbed an equaliser in the 17th minute, with Ebenezer Assifuah tucking the ball underneath Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet at his near post.
Source: liverpoolfc.com
Fortunes were not on Liverpool’s side as Danny Ings had a goal ruled out in the 20th minute after being adjudged offside following a neat piece of play from Origi.
Jordan Rossiter appeared to feel the pressure in this European appearance as he was simply bullied by Sion’s midfield players, Edimilson Fernandes in particular, and was visibly frustrated by his performance.
The Reds’ faithful faced some competition from the travelling Swiss supporters in Anfield as the away cast of fans that were a powerful voice throughout the game, especially after their equaliser halfway through the first half.
Liverpool made one change at the half time break, with Alberto Moreno coming on to replace Nathaniel Clyne, maintaining the 3-4-2-1 formation from the first half.
Rodgers’ men started the second half well with a chance for Liverpool to take the lead coming in the 48th minute, via Ings, and captain Kolo Toure hitting the crossbar from inside Sion’s box on the stroke of 50 minutes.
Much of the same continued in the second half, Liverpool were the dominant side but were unable to find the key to unlock Sion’s defence and it may be a lack of a physical presence in midfield that cost Liverpool on the night.
The introduction of Liverpool’s star player Philippe Coutinho came in the turn of the hour, slotting in just behind the left of Origi, with Ings making his way for the Brazillan.
Liverpool’s ‘Little Magician’ didn’t see much of the ball in the first quarter of an hour after coming on with only a wayward long-range shot going closer to the corner flag than anywhere else.
Mamadou Sakho was introduced in the 75th minute after Sion had got themselves back in the game heading into the final 20 minutes, the Frenchman replaced Toure and was handed the armband by the Ivorian.
Sion made their first substitution of the game in the 85th minute as Birama Ndoye replaced goal scorer Assifuah. The visitors made their final substitution just three minutes later with Moussa Kounate being replaced by Geoffrey Mujangi Bia.
As time went by, so did the foul count. The final fifteen minutes of the game wasn’t particularly pretty from either side as a number of sloppy fouls and tired legs saw the game end in stalemate.
Steven Carson
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great post I’m a big mufc,arsenal,liverpool fc,fc fan from holland