Liverpool came from behind to share a 1-1 draw against 10-man Rubin Kazan in Jurgen Klopp's first game in charge at Anfield.
Marko Devic gave the visitors a surprise lead, but they were reduced to 10 men when Oleg Kuzmin was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Liverpool took advantage and equalised a minute later as Emre Can slotted in at the back post following a free kick.
The Reds continued to dominate and Christian Benteke struck the post late on, but they were unable to force a late winner, as they drew for the third straight European match.
Find out how the action unfolded below.
Good evening everyone! We're into the third matchday of this season's Europa League, and there is only one game that has been making the headlines over the past week. It's at Anfield, where Jurgen Klopp will be taking charge of his first home game as Liverpool manager, as the Reds face Russian outfit Rubin Kazan.
Anfield's ready. Where will you be watching Jürgen Klopp's first #LFC home game from tonight? #WeAreLiverpool pic.twitter.com/vL8A7neSxg
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 22, 2015
The German began his reign as Liverpool manager last weekend, with his side playing out a goalless draw against Tottenham at White Hart Lane. They are back in league action against Southampton at the weekend, but before that they will want to improve on their European form, after drawing their first two group games.
Making the trip to Anfield this evening are Rubin Kazan, who have made a poor start to their domestic season and are just three points above the Russian Premier League's bottom club. They are also looking for their first win in the group, and were held by Bordeaux last time out.
There's been plenty of speculation all week over who Klopp will start this evening. So, without further ado, let's take a look at the all-important team news from Anfield.
LIVERPOOl XI: Mignolet, Clyne, Skrtel, Sakho, Moreno, Can, Allen, Milner, Lallana, Coutinho, Origi
RUBIN KAZAN XI: Ryzhikov, Kuzmin, Kverkvelia, Kambolov, Nabiullin, Carlos Eduardo, Ozdoev, Gokdeniz Karadeniz, Georgiev, Devic, Kanunnikov
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Bogdan, Toure, Benteke, Firmino, Lucas, Ibe, Randall
RUBIN KAZAN SUBS: Haghighi, Lemos, Cotugno, Akhmetov, Bilyaletdinov, Portnyagin, Dyadyun
So, that's how the teams line up for this evening's match. Liverpool have made just one change from the team who drew with Spurs at the weekend, as Joe Allen comes in to replace Lucas. It means that Divock Origi continues to lead the attack, with Daniel Sturridge out of action, but they do have Christian Benteke and Roberto Firmino back on the bench.
Meanwhile, Marko Devic and Maksim Kanunnikov will be expected to provide the main attacking threat for the visitors. They may also be hoping for a goal from right-back Oleg Kuzmin, who scored twice in his team's 3-1 win over FC Ufa at the weekend.
Liverpool will be hoping that Jurgen Klopp's arrival can improve their fortunes in this season's Europa League, as they have made a stuttering start to their group stage campaign. They did look on their way to a victory in their opening match at Bordeaux after Adam Lallana's solo strike, but a late equaliser from Jussie ensured they had to settle for a point.
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It was similar story at Anfield in their next group match at the beginning of October against Sion, when an early goal from Lallana gave them the perfect start to the night. However, Ebenezer Assifuah brought the Swiss side level, and the Reds were unable to find a winner as the game ended in another frustrating draw.
It is not just in the Europa League where the Reds have failed to hit top form this season, as they are currently 10th in the Premier League table and are closer to the bottom three than league leaders Manchester City.
They had actually made a bright start to the season, and claimed consecutive 1-0 victories over Stoke City and Bournemouth in their opening two games. A goalless draw against Arsenal at the Emirates followed, but a 3-0 defeat at home to West Ham at the end of August saw things start to unravel for Brendan Rodgers.
Their next match saw them travel to Old Trafford to face rivals Manchester United, where they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat. Their run without a victory stretched to four games in the league after a draw against Norwich City, before they finally got back to winning ways against Aston Villa.
Given those poor results, as they headed into their derby clash with Everton, there was huge speculation surrounding Brendan Rodgers's position as manger, and just hours after the match ended in a 1-1 draw, the Irishman was sacked after three years in charge of the Reds.
Following Rodgers's exit from the club, speculation was rife over who would be appointed Liverpool's new manager, with Jurgen Klopp and Carlo Ancelotti said to be the frontrunners for the job. Indeed it was Klopp who was brought in to the club on a three-year deal, but the former Borussia Dortmund coach had to wait a while for his first match in charge due to the international break.
PHOTOS: More pictures of the manager taking in Anfield ahead of #LFC's clash with Rubin Kazan this evening. pic.twitter.com/x6xwuCHqv5
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 22, 2015
When the big day finally came, the German saw his team battle to a draw against Spurs, in a game of few chances at White Hart Lane. He wasn't helped in the build up to the match with an injury that ruled out Daniel Sturridge, while he will also have to make do without Danny Ings and Joe Gomez for the rest of the season, after the pair suffered serious knee injuries last week.
Hoping to cause a shock at Anfield this evening are a Rubin Kazan side in poor form. The Russians are currently propping up Group D after picking up one point from their first two games. That came last time out when they shared a goalless draw with Bordeaux, while their opening group match ended in a 2-1 defeat at Sion.
Rubin did end a run of six games without a win in all competitions on Saturday, as they recovered from conceding an early goal to fight back and claim a 3-1 victory over FC Ufa. It was only their third win in the league this season and lifted them up to 12th in the table.
We're not too far away now from the start of the match, and the Liverpool supporters will be hoping that it is another European night to remember at Anfield. They have produced some notable displays here over the years, particularly during the 2004-05 season, where they won the Champions League in that remarkable final against AC Milan.
That was their last taste of success in Europe, and if they want to return to the Champions League then they may have to win this tournament, as a top-four finish is already looking a tough ask. They can take inspiration from the fact that they have won this competition three times, notably beating Deportivo Alaves 5-4 in the 2001 final thanks to a golden goal winner in extra time.
Liverpool aren't the only Premier League team in this season's Europa League, and England's other representatives Tottenham were in action earlier this evening away at Anderlecht. Spurs made a bright start to the match when Christian Eriksen scored four minutes in, but Guillaume Gillet quickly equalised and Stefano Okaka scored a second-half winner to subject the Londoners to a 2-1 defeat.
Well, we're just about ready to go here at Anfield, and there is a superb atmosphere inside the ground. The fans are in full voice and they will surely be hoping for an electric start from their team this evening.
KICKOFF! We are underway at Anfield!
Rubin have shown just as much threat as Liverpool in the opening minutes, and Devic charges through the midfield before going down just outside the box under pressure from Skrtel. There is no free kick given by the referee, though, and the Ukraine international is given a warning by the official not to go down too easily.
The hosts are enjoying the vast majority of the ball at the moment, but as yet they have been unable to trouble the Rubin keeper. I'm sure that Klopp won't be too displeased at what he is seeing from his players, as they are putting together some good moves here.
SHOT! Can has the first attempt on goal for the hosts, as he brushes off a couple of defenders and works some room to shoot outside the box. The German then looks to bend a strike into the corner, but he can only fire the ball into the side netting.
SHOT! The Reds are well on top here and they have another effort on the Rubin goal. This time Clyne drives down the right, before cutting inside and onto his left foot, before dragging a shot comfortably wide of the near post.
Although they haven't able to find the early goal, it has still been a good start from the Reds. They look confident on the ball and are working hard at getting all their players involved in their attacks.
GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Rubin Kazan (Marko Devic)
This is not what Liverpool would have wanted this evening, as Rubin take the lead inside the opening 15 minutes. It's a fine goal from the visitors, as a pass over the defence from Kuzmin finds Devic, who takes the ball down, before firing a superb shot into the corner and out of the reach of Mignolet.
SHOT! The Reds look for an immediate response and Lallana bursts through the heart of the midfield. He then gets to within shooting range and fires in a low drive, but his effort heads a few inches the wrong side of the post.
YELLOW CARD! Kuzmin is handed the first booking of the match for going in with a challenge against Moreno with his studs up.
CHANCE! From the resulting free kick, Lallana meets Coutinho's inswinging delivery, before flicking a header just over the bar. This has been a good response to falling behind by Liverpool, but now they need to apply the clinical touch in the final third.
SHOT! Yet again the Reds work another opening, as Clyne gets in far too easily down the right. The full-back then whips a low cross into the box, that ends up finding Origi, but with the ball slightly behind the striker, he can only turn his effort wide of the post.
CHANCE! Rubin give the ball away cheaply deep inside their own half and Coutinho is quick to steal possession and charge into the box. The Brazilian then looks to fire a low strike into the far corner, but he drags the shot slightly and puts his effort wide. You would expect better of the midfielder from that position given his quality.
There is no need for Liverpool to panic at the moment, as they have played the better football this evening and look a threat every time they come forward. It is just a moment of class from the visitors that is the difference here, but there is still a long way to go in this match.
The chances have just dried up a little bit of the hosts in recent minutes, with Rubin having a decent spell on the ball. The Russians have certainly grown in confidence throughout the half and they have already shown that their forwards can cause the Reds some real problems at the back.
SHOT! Lallana has looked the biggest threat for the hosts this evening and he curls in a strike from outside the box that is comfortable for Ryzhikov. Moments later the England international has another attempt, with his low drive heading straight into the keeper's gloves.
SAVE! How important will this save from Mignolet be for the Reds? The keeper is called into action to palm over a stinging drive from Georgiev, who was given far too much space inside the box to take the ball down and get away his effort.
YELLOW CARD! It's a second booking of the night and this time Skrtel is shown a card by the referee for fouling Devic.
RED CARD TO RUBIN KAZAN! Having already been booked earlier this evening, Kuzmin brings down Can as the German charges past him down the left. The referee is then straight over to show him another yellow and his team will now have to play the rest of the match with 10 men.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Rubin Kazan (Emre Can)
Liverpool make their man advantage count immediately, as Can brings them level with the first goal of Klopp's reign as manager. The German finds himself unmarked at the back post to slot in from just a couple of yards out, after Origi had got above everyone to flick on Coutinho's free kick.
YELLOW CARD! Allen is the second Liverpool player to be shown a card this evening for a high challenge on Georgiev.
CLOSE! The Reds are looking for a second goal before the break and they work the ball neatly to Coutinho just outside the box. The Brazilian then takes a touch and looks to pick out the far corner, but his effort goes inches wide of the post with the keeper at full stretch.
There will be just one minute added on to the end of the first half.
HALF-TIME: Liverpool 1-1 Rubin Kazan
We've reached the halfway stage of this evening's match at Anfield, where Liverpool have come from behind to level the scores against Rubin Kazan. A well-taken goal from Marko Devic gave the visitors an early lead, but Emre Can's goal just a minute after Oleg Kuzmin was sent off has set us up for an intriguing second period.
© Getty Images
Jurgen Klopp will have been pleased with most of his team's play in the first half, and they dominated the match for large spells. They had 65% of the possession and managed 12 attempts on goal, but they did allow Rubin to have four shots of their own, with Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho looking badly exposed at times.
I just wonder if the Liverpool manager is already thinking about making some changes for the second half. Divock Origi may have played a big part in the goal, but he has often given the ball away cheaply. They do have Christain Benteke on the bench to replace him up front, while Roberto Firmino and Jordon Ibe could also make an impact in the attack.
RESTART! Liverpool take the kick off for the second half and get the action back underway. The Reds have also made a change at the break, with Lucas coming on to replace Allen. There has also been a change by the visitors, as Cotugno is on for the goalscorer Devic.
Liverpool are already bossing possession at the start of the half and you can only see this trend continuing for the rest of the match. Rubin really have it all to do with their numerical disadvantage and they are getting plenty of men behind the ball to try and stop their opponents from creating any chances.
The pressure is mounting from the Reds and the visitors are unable to get out of their own half at the moment. However, the finishing touch is still missing from Klopp's men, and their deliveries into the box aside from the goal have been disappointing.
Liverpool seem happy to patiently work the ball around their midfield, before waiting for gaps to open up in the Rubin defence. They are not looking to play it long to Origi and hope for the striker to flick the ball on, but are instead they are keeping it on the deck and are racking up the passes.
Karadeniz is fortunate to escape a booking after hacking down Lallana around 25 yards out from goal. However, the Reds have been given a free kick in a very promising position, and there are a number of interested parties standing over the ball.
SHOT! Coutinho ends up taking the free kick, but it's a really poor effort from the Brazilian, as he curls a low effort well wide of the target. He hasn't found his shooting boots this evening, but as he showed against Stoke at the start of the season, it only takes him a moment to score.
CLOSE! It's Coutinho again who has the chance to score for Liverpool as he is found inside the box by Milner, after a fine run from the England midfielder. He then drags the ball back onto his right foot and attempts to bend a shot into the far corner, but it drifts a few yards wide of the target.
SUB! Liverpool make their first change of the match and it's Benteke who is coming on in place of Coutinho. The Brazilian hasn't been at his best this evening, but it is always a surprise to see him taken off.
SUB! Rubin are also going to make a substitution, as Portnyagin is on to replace Eduardo.
Rubin haven't been given too many problems in this second half, but they almost gift Liverpool the lead when Ozdoyev turns a cross towards his own goal. The Russian has his heart in his mouth for a second, before the ball drops over the bar instead of into the net.
Despite the complete control that Liverpool have on the match, the visitors are starting to show a few signs that they could score inside the last 20 minutes. They have already latched upon a couple of misplaced passes in the midfield, while they are getting plenty of men forward on the counter.
CHANCE! What a great chance this is for Benteke. The striker finds himself free inside the box to meet a cross from Clyne, but he can only volley the ball over the bar. If the Belgian was at full fitness I think he may have scored, as there is bound to be some rustiness following his recent injury.
SUB! Origi's night is over for the Reds, as Brazilian midfielder Firmino comes on to replace him for the last 16 minutes.
Liverpool don't look like scoring at the moment and it is going to take something special for them to break the deadlock in the final stages. They have really struggled to test the keeper all evening, and only four of their attempts on goal have found the target.
OFF THE POST! This is about as close as Liverpool have come to scoring in the second half. Lallana leads a quick break with a storming run through the midfield. He then plays it wide to Benteke, who guides a low first-time strike towards the far corner, but his effort comes back off the post with the keeper well beaten.
SUB! Final change for the visitors, as Dyadyun comes on to replace Karadeniz.
The pressure is unrelenting now from the Reds and the crowd have suddenly found their voices. They have also won a number of corners in the past few minutes, while Can and Benteke have both fired efforts a few yards over the bar.
CHANCE! A rare break forward from the visitors sees Sakho forced to put the ball behind for a corner, and they send plenty of men into the box for the delivery. Portnyagin then towers above everyone to meet the set piece, but he thumps his header wide of the post.
There are going to be at least three minutes of stoppage time.
Rubin have another chance to test the Liverpool defence from a corner, but this time the delivery is comfortably cleared by the Reds. The hosts then push forward and work the ball out wide to Clyne, but the full-back's delivery into the box is poor and easily claimed by the keeper.
SHOT! Liverpool keep pressing and the ball eventually drops to Lucas outside the box. The Brazilian then fancies his chances of a stunning winner, but his fierce half-volley lacks direction and heads a few inches wide of the post.
FULL-TIME: Liverpool 1-1 Rubin Kazan
It's all over at Anfield and the Reds have been unable to find a winner. Jurgen Klopp will now have to wait until at least the weekend for a home win as manager of Liverpool, when they face Southampton in the Premier League.
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We're out of time for today's coverage, but make sure you stay with us throughout the night for the latest breaking news and all of the biggest stories. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening. Goodbye!
Written by
Alex Meyers
Alex Meyers
