Liverpool's miserable run of form continued as they threw away a lead late on to draw 1-1 with Bordeaux in their opening UEFA Europa League group stage game on Thursday night.
The Reds struggled to carry much of a threat throughout, and had to wait until the 65th minute before finding the breakthrough - as Adam Lallana's exquisite solo goal in the 65th minute gave them the advantage in France.
But the visitors, who gave two teenagers debuts off of the bench at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, could not see out a victory as substitute Jussiê Ferreira Vieira fired the Ligue 1 outfit level with nine minutes remaining - seizing upon a loose ball to fire into the roof of the net and ensure both sides finished with a point.
Liverpool name youthful starting eleven in France
Brendan Rodgers made eight changes as only Simon Mignolet, Joe Gomez and Emre Can kept their places from the team who lost to Manchester United last Saturday.
The Northern Irishman opted to return to a back-three system with wing-backs, the same which inspired their mid-season revival last year, with Jordan Rossiter being handed his continental debut as Mamadou Sakho and Kolo Touré both made their first appearances of the season.
Further forward, Philippe Coutinho returned from a one-match suspension and Adam Lallana came back from a thigh injury as they supported lone striker Divock Origi, making his first start for the club.
But despite fielding an inexperienced line-up, the Reds started fairly well and after just a few minutes, they won the ball in midfield before speeding forward.
Following some quick pass and move football, Coutinho controlled from Origi's square ball before driving a left-footed effort narrowly wide of Cédric Carrasso's far post as they seemed to signal their intent early on.
The Reds had an equally as promising move when Rossiter's excellent 40-yard pass picked out Ibe down the right a couple of minutes later.
He pulled the ball down and lifted the ball over the head of Maxime Poundjé, who brought the teenager down with his trailing leg - but referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco was unmoved by the penalty shouts.
Despite being the visitors, Liverpool continued to exercise good control in the opening stages - next coming closest as Emre Can's ambitious overhead kick from a corner kick fell kindly into Carrasso's arms.
But Bordeaux soon began to grow into the game and almost immediately up the other end, the Ligue 1 side nearly put themselves in front against the run of play.
Diego Rolan collected a long through ball and tried to lift a chip over Mignolet, who rushed off his line to narrow the forward's view of the goal, but the Uruguayan could only find the roof of the net with his effort.
Bordeaux begin to gain foothold, but clear cut chances come at a premium for either side
Willy Sagnol's side steadily started to assert themselves on the game, forcing a foul out of Touré - who went into the book after just 12 minutes.
The resulting set-piece saw the Ivorian writhing around in pain after his goalkeeper caught him with his knee in coming to punch the floated delivery, causing a painful dead leg which clearly restricted his movement.
Les Girondins continued to pour pressure on Liverpool, as an overhit cross fell to an unmarked Nicolas Maurice-Belay on the left side. He cut inside to find Wahbi Khazri, who looked to bend a right-footed strike into the far top corner from the edge of the area, but could only guide his shot a yard or so wide.
The home side, cool and composed in possession, began to match Liverpool in all areas of the pitch. Their willingness to get forward and test the visitors' defence did however allow the Premier League side to occasionally counter.
One break saw Coutinho pick out Origi in the final third - but after the Reds worked the ball centrally to Can, the German midfielder could only thrash a long-range drive over the crossbar.
For the most part, Liverpool found themselves forced into rearguard action, as Touré continued to struggle moving freely. As a result, the Reds were forced into a reshuffle, as Pedro Chirivella was handed his competitive debut for the club, replacing Touré as Can slotted in at centre-back.
Hosts the better side but still not cutting edge
Neither side really created many clear cut opportunities, as Liverpool's inexperience began to show in giving away a number of cheap fouls.
After Rossiter hauled down Rolan with a trailing leg, Henri Saivet's free-kick took a troubling deflection off the wall, but though the bounce almost deceived Mignolet, he managed to shift his body weight well to meet the strike.
Otherwise, chances were few and far between for both sides - as they battled for control of the game. Rolan, who had troubled Liverpool's back line throughout, brought down a long ball in space before hitting a first-time left-footed shot, but he got his exceution all wrong - blazing it over the bar.
Up the other end, Lallana should have done better after finding the ball at his feet from 25-yards. With space ahead of him, he hesitated to shoot and took too many touches, allowing Bordeaux to recover and win the ball back.
A youthful-looking Liverpool side, whose age averaged just 21.7 years after Touré had been brought off, almost struck a deadly blow just minutes before the break - as Coutinho hit an excellently struck effort from 25-yards, which cannoned back off the post with Carrasso looking well beaten.
But the half-time whistle soon brought a largely uneventful first-half to a welcome end for Rodgers, with Liverpool carrying little threat and the home side growing in confidence as they continued to create a number of dangerous chances.
Game continues to flatter to deceive after the interval
The tempo changed very little after the break, as Liverpool continued to look toothless and indecisive in the final third, Coutinho aside. It was he who nearly slipped in Lallana after 50 minutes, but the Englishman was too slow off the mark to react to the pass and the chance quickly faded away.
The visitors looked to have the better of the game in first quarter of an hour after half-time, but struggled from a dearth of intensity and desire - which meant very little of note happened before the hour mark approached.
Coutinho was undoubtedly the most creative force for Liverpool, as he cut inside from the left and found Lallana - who turned and hit a first-time strike, but Carrasso was able to get down and parry it wide on 57 minutes, but again the away team could muster nothing from the resulting corner kick.
Bordeaux produced a quick reply as Saivet crashed a header into the side netting after getting the better of his marker with a near post run at a corner, but he was unable to steer his shot on target.
The game, happily, began to open up a little as both sides chased the game - but for the most part Liverpool were restricted to half-chances, as Rossiter's ambitious volley from 25-yards turned out to be a comfortable save for Carrasso.
The game should have seen its first goal in the 63rd minute, after Maurice-Belay collected a loose ball inside the box. Finding himself in space after Ibe's slack marking, his initial shot was thwarted by Mignolet, before Enzo Crivelli couldn't control from close-range, bundling a shot wide.
Lallana finally opens the scoring in Bordeaux
But after a more open period of the game, Liverpool finally found the breakthrough as Lallana deceived Pablo with a lovely nutmeg before making headway into the area and guiding a placed effort past Carrasso and into the bottom corner for the game's opening goal.
It was an extraordinary moment of class from a game which had been flat throughout, and it gave them the confidence to push forward for a second.
To counter Liverpool's threat, Sagnol introduced Jussiê to give Bordeaux an extra outlet up front whilst Origi, who struggled to make his mark after a lack of support or service, was replaced by Danny Ings.
The former Burnley striker had the ideal opportunity to double the visitors' lead just moments after coming on, as he controlled a long ball with a delightful first touch, pulling himself into space on his right foot - but Carrasso did well to make himself wide and block the strike.
Up the other end though, Liverpool continued to leave themselves vulnerable defensively - as a number of defenders continued to go for the same aerial ball, often leaving pockets of space for the hosts. A lack of communication between Can and Gomez left Crivelli wide open, but Mignolet was able to hold his volley well.
Just minutes later, Can's hash clearance from a corner kick saw him almost divert a cross into his own net - but the Reds recovered to deal with a wasteful corner. Nevertheless, the warning signs were still there for the away side.
Home side deservedly pull level late on
Rodgers added some fresh legs as Rossiter, who was suffering from cramp as the game grew on, made way for U21 captain Cameron Brannagan - who became the 41st debutant under Rodgers' tenure, coming on for the final 10 minutes.
But that mattered little, as substitute Jussiê put his side level in the 81st minute. Lacklustre defending from Gomez allowed the ball to bounce kindly for the Brazilian striker, who fired high into the roof of the net from 14 yards out, bringing Bordeaux level.
In the closing stages, Moreno tried his luck from range - as a fierce low drive forced Carrasso into a good save, whilst Coutinho and Brannagan also had half-chances, but neither side could find enough to come away victorious as an unconvincing Liverpool side failed to halt their poor run of form - leaving them without a win in the last four.