Ibe earns Liverpool three points at Rubin

• Tidy Jordon Ibe finish gives Liverpool first Group B win; 19-year-old's first Reds goal
• Dominant visitors' maiden European victory under Jürgen Klopp
• Subdued Rubin won all three previous home games against English opponents
• Rubin goalkeeper Sergei Ryzhikov spares his side a more substantial defeat
• Next games: Rubin v Sion, Liverpool v Bordeaux (26 November)

Liverpool's UEFA Europa League Group B campaign has some momentum at last following a 1-0 victory against Rubin Kazan on a chilly night in the capital of Tatarstan.

The scoreline did not reflect the visitors' dominance. Liverpool were frustrated for long periods, but an excellently taken goal from Jordon Ibe early in the second half proved the difference between the two teams.

Jürgen Klopp's side started well with James Milner seeing his sixth-minute shot skim off the top of the crossbar, with Sergei Ryzhikov well beaten. Liverpool totally mastered possession, creating a dozen opportunities to the hosts' solitary first-half effort. The problem for the Reds was that none of theirs were on target.

Indeed, the closest Liverpool came in the first 45 minutes was when Rubin defender Solomon Kverkvelia drew a fantastic save from Ryzhikov with a misplaced headed clearance. 

Liverpool began the second period as they had finished the first – in complete control – and finally made the breakthrough on 52 minutes, the impressive Ibe striding towards goal unchallenged before striking a firm right-footed shot from just outside the area, which kissed the post on its way in.

Moments later, Milner's drive was tipped over the bar by Ryzhikov, and the 35-year-old goalkeeper did well to deny Dejan Lovren moments before the hour, getting down well to repel a powerful header. Rubin failed to muster a shot on target all game and, but for Ryzhikov, Liverpool would have been out of sight long before the final whistle.

©AFP

©AFP