Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.
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Kick of is at 7.45pm.
Here are tonight’s teams…
📋 The #LFC team to face Spartak Moscow. pic.twitter.com/3mEQuJLPqf
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 26, 2017
Наш состав на матч #ЛигаЧемпионов #СпартакЛиверпуль!#UCL #SpartakLFC pic.twitter.com/yYYbDV6uDz
— FC Spartak Moscow (@fcsm_official) September 26, 2017
A reminder that you can keep up to date with all tonight’s Champions League matches via our score centre here.
We’re under way…
Coutinho whips in a ball towards Firmino.
It’s overhit, however, and goes out of play.
Can gets a booking early on.
A heavy touch prompts the German to dive in towards Bocchetti, who gets to the ball first and is consequently fouled.
It’s been a scrappy opening 10 minutes.
There have been no clear-cut chances created yet.
Nice build-up play by Liverpool.
Alexander-Arnold and Salah play a one-two, before the former shoots just wide.
Mane tries to skip away from Eshchenko, but the defender does well to stop the Liverpool star getting his cross in.
Liverpool have been pretty dominant in terms of possession so far, but the hosts have looked pretty solid defensively.
Flare set off by Spartak fans ('Grass!' etc.) pic.twitter.com/npE6X2UXTS
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) September 26, 2017
Firmino’s header forces a decent save from Rebrov, after an excellent Mane cross.
Liverpool are beginning to look more dangerous now.
Coutinho is penalised for a foul on Samedov on the edge of the visitors’ box.
That stemmed from Can giving the ball away.
SPARTAK 1-0 LIVERPOOL (FERNANDO 23)
Fernando curls a free kick on the edge of the box into the net to hand Spartak the lead against the run of play.
Karius arguably should have done better, as it wasn’t in the corner of the net by any means.
Spartak are zipping the ball about with more confidence since the goal.
As I type, however, Mane forces a save from Rebrov with a decent attempt.
9 - Liverpool have not kept a clean sheet in the CL since November 2009 (vs Debrecen), conceding in each of their last nine games. Frail.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 26, 2017
LIVERPOOL 1-1 SPARTAK (COUTINHO 31)
Coutinho and Mane play a one-two to open Spartak up, before the Brazilian fires the ball emphatically past Rebrov.
That’s Coutinho’s first-ever Champions League goal.
Cracking goal from Coutinho to level things for Liverpool. Surprised someone didn't try and buy him in the summer.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) September 26, 2017
9 - Philippe Coutinho has now scored nine goals in his last 14 competitive appearances for Liverpool. Influence. pic.twitter.com/2voiAYivPV
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 26, 2017
Liverpool have had 55% of the ball so far and eight shots compared with one for Spartak.
There’s no doubt the visitors have been the better side.
Great ball in by Henderson.
Firmino, however, can’t properly connect with it, and Rebrov collects the ball comfortably.
Elsewhere tonight, Harry Kane has put Spurs 1-0 up away to APOEL.
They should win that game comfortably.
Spartak have been very cautious and deep-lying for much of the half.
The Russians are playing like the away team at times.
Spartak break forcing Matip to head out for a corner.
That was caused by Can giving the ball away. The German international has had a poor first half.
All of a sudden, Liverpool break with five attackers versus two defenders.
However, Mane is ruled offside as the ball is played towards him.
HALF-TIME: SPARTAK 1-1 LIVERPOOL
The second half has begun…
Nothing much to write about in this second half so far.
However, Man City have taken the lead against Shakhtar, with De Bruyne getting the goal.
Coutinho wins a free kick on the edge of the box.
The Brazilian international has looked sharp tonight.
Rebrov gets down well to save Coutinho’s free kick.
Liverpool remain the dominant side.
All of a sudden, Spartak break.
Eshchenko’s powerful shot forces Karius to tip the ball out for a corner.
That man has done it again…
70 - Cristiano Ronaldo has now scored in 70 different Champions League matches (excl. qualifiers); more than any other player. Superstar. pic.twitter.com/u6SzM434US
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 26, 2017
Mane plays the ball across goal and Sane can’t get to it.
The defender gave him a slight push to make sure the Egypt international didn’t get to the ball.
Liverpool remain the much better side, but they still can’t quite open up their opponents.
The visitors have also looked vulnerable on the rare occasions Spartak have counter-attacked.
Liverpool have made 320 passes.
Spartak, by contrast, have completed 196, according to BT Sport’s stats.
It’s now 2-0 to Spurs.
Kane has scored a second tonight.
Spartak have been forced to make a change in goals.
The injured Rebrov is being replaced by Selikhov.
Liverpool now make a change.
Sturridge replaces Mane, as Liverpool search for a winner.
Liverpool make another change now.
Wijnaldum has replaced Can, who’s been disappointing tonight.
Kane has now completed his hat-trick.
Spurs lead APOEL 3-0.
6 - With his three goals against APOEL Nicosia, Harry Kane has now scored six hat-tricks in 2017. Ridiculous.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 26, 2017
Nice ball by Moreno to find Alexander-Arnold.
The youngster fires just over from the edge of the box.
Firmino wins the ball on the edge of the box, but subsequently fires well over.
Liverpool have been disappointing in the final third tonight.
Liverpool continue to dominate possession and territory.
This second half has been very stop-start, however, which is not helping the visitors.
Sturridge gets the ball inside the box, but he can’t quite control it and the chance goes.
It’s been a frustrating night for Liverpool’s attackers.
Big chance!
Henderson picks out Sturridge with a lovely ball in, but the England international’s volley flies over.
There will be EIGHT minutes of stoppage time…
Firmino finds himself in a great position, but his cross is behind Salah.
Liverpool will be kicking themselves if they don’t win this game.
Another opportunity for Liverpool.
This time, Selikhov makes a good save from Salah’s powerful header.
FULL-TIME: SPARTAK 1-1 LIVERPOOL
Right, that’s all from me. Thanks for reading and commenting.
We’ll have more reaction to follow.
You can read our report of the game here.
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