Jussiê to the rescue as Bordeaux hold Liverpool
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Article summary
Bordeaux 1-1 Liverpool
Jussiê's 81st-minute strike cancelled out an Adam Lallana opener as the Group B favourites settled for a point apiece in south-west France.
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• Coutinho crashes shot against post in goalless first half
• Kolo Touré injury brings 18-year-old Pedro Chirivella on for debut
• Fit-again Adam Lallana puts Reds in front with cool finish on 65 minutes
• Substitute Jussiê equalises with first goal since 27 April 2014
• Next games: Rubin v Bordeaux, Liverpool v Sion (1 October)
Jussiê earned Bordeaux a share of the spoils against Liverpool as the two favourites in UEFA Europa League Group B kicked off with a 1-1 draw.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers opted to leave a number of big names at home for their competition opener, but his side showed early on that they had to come to win. Coutinho was the first to trouble the Bordeaux back line, screwing wide with five minutes gone.
Perhaps inspired by Christian Benteke's weekend effort against Manchester United, Emre Can then attempted an overhead kick claimed comfortably by Cédric Carrasso. The hosts were feeling the pressure, yet they made their own contribution to an entertaining game when Diego Rolán chipped over Simon Mignolet – and narrowly over the crossbar.
The play began switching from end to end thereafter, though it was interrupted when Kolo Touré's first appearance this term was cut short by injury. With debutant Pedro Chirivella introduced alongside fellow teenager Jordan Rossiter in midfield, Emre dropped back into defence – a defence that allowed Wahbi Khazri to run at goal and shoot straight at Mignolet.
Having flirted with disaster, the Reds almost took the lead moments later, Coutinho crashing a fierce strike against the post from distance on the cusp of half-time. The woodwork was still rattling by the start of the second half, which went up a gear when Adam Lallana tested Carrasso close to the hour mark.
The fit-again England international swiftly put the Reds ahead too, receiving a pass from Alberto Moreno and slotting the ball between Pablo's legs before sweeping a low effort inside the far post.
That came after Mignolet had denied Nicolas Maurice-Belay at close range, but Bordeaux got their leveller when substitute Jussiê fired high into the net after Enzo Crivelli had juggled between Joe Gomez and Emre.
Joy for Jussiê
Acclaimed by Bordeaux's fans after the final whistle, the Brazilian forward saved the hosts with his first goal since 27 April 2014. Sidelined with an elbow injury before suffering a knee-ligament injury at the end of the 2013/14 season, he was making his third cameo appearance since finally putting that nightmare period behind him.
Young Liverpool midfielders impress
With boss Rodgers making eight changes to the team that lost at Manchester United, 18-year-old Jordan Rossiter was handed his first ever Liverpool start – and he seized the occasion with a tidy, tenacious midfield display. Touré's early withdrawal then brought Chirivella, 18, into the fray alongside him, but the debutant also appeared at ease.
Rodgers reverts to 3-4-2-1
Much criticised for persisting with a 4-3-3 formation that suffered from a lack of width, Rodgers reintroduced the template that served his side well last term. Mamadou Sakho and Touré made their first outings this season next to Gomez, and the Reds began purposefully until Touré – the most assured of the trio – was forced out of the action.