Jürgen Klopp's first home match as manager of Liverpool didn't quite go to plan when they were held 1-1 by Russian side Rubin Kazan.

It was the visitors that took the lead through Marko Devic before Emre Can equalised just before the break after Oleg Kuzmin was dismissed. Adam Lallana, Christian Benteke and Lucas went close in the second period but couldn’t find a winner to seal Klopp's first victory in charge. 

Devic's shocking opener

It was a pretty sheltered opening period but people inside Anfield were left in shock when the visitors took the lead 15 minutes in. It was a great finish against the run of the play when Kuzmin played the ball over the defence with Devic beating the offside trap made capable by full-back Nathaniel Clyne, before smashing goalwards past Simon Mignolet on the half-volley.

Liverpool push for equaliser

Klopp's side dusted themselves off after going behind and pushed for an equaliser, Lallana came close after twenty minutes when he flicked the ball on after being played through by Philippe Coutinho, but it only met the roof of the net.

The Brazilian then had his own attempt on-goal minutes later as he intercepted a stray pass and managed to beat the defender in the one-on-one situation but fluffed his lines when he put his effort well wide of the mark.

They almost found themselves two goals behind when Blagoy Georgiev tried a volley from 10-yards out, but Mignolet did well to tip his effort over the crossbar.

Can levels up

Liverpool were handed a huge boost when Kazan were reduced to ten men - as Kuzmin was dismissed for a second yellow card. Then just moments later, the Reds found their equaliser. Coutinho floated a free-kick into the area, catching the Rubin backline unaware. This gave Emre Can the perfect opportunity to capitalise, and strike home from a few yards out, which he did emphatically.

Philippe was unlucky not to put the hosts in-front, after his 20-yard effort flashed narrowly wide of the mark.

Second-half dominance

In search of the winner, Klopp's men came flying out of the traps in the second-half, almost taking the lead soon after the interval too. Clyne played a one-two with Lallana and swiftly found himself in a dangerous position to swing the ball into the box, but his delivery was wasted and the pressure was eased.

Making his first appearance following a hamstring injury, Christian Benteke had a big impact on the game as a substitute, and could have grabbed a late winner as the clock ticked down into the final stages.

The former Aston Villa forward saw a volley swerve narrowly over the crossbar, before hitting the woodwork just four minutes afterwards courtesy of good attacking impetus from Lallana. Evidently though, it was not meant to be - as the Reds recorded their third consecutive group stage draw in this year's competition, and sit in second place - just one point about Kazan and Bordeaux, but four behind leaders FC Sion.

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About the author
Danial  Kennedy
Award-winning sports journalism graduate. Currently studying a PR Masters at the University of Sunderland. Writing for VAVEL since August 2014. Twitter - @ddkjournalism.