Philippe Coutinho helped Liverpool rescue a point as they played to a 1-1 draw in their Champions League group encounter against Spartak Moscow at the Otkrytiye Arena on Tuesday night.
Klopp’s team selection suggested he felt three points were a necessity, with an attacking lineup featuring a front-four of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Coutinho.
For all that they were expected to pose the biggest threats, young fullback Trent Alexander-Arnold was first to go close when volleying just wide, following a one-two with Salah.
The visitors stepped on the gas thereafter as Mane sent in a cross for Firmino, whose fine header was parried away by Artyom Rebrov.
Despite their dominance, Klopp’s men fell behind midway through the half through a superb free kick from Fernando.
The midfielder was afforded his chance when slack play from Emre Can preceded a rash challenge by Coutinho.
And he made Liverpool pay, curling home a delicious 20-yard effort – although Loris Karius, selected ahead of Simon Mignolet, will feel he should have done better.
They were behind for just seven minutes, though, as Coutinho atoned for his error by curling home, following a fine one-two with Mane.
Liverpool could have gone ahead just before the break, only for a thrilling four-on-two counter-attack to be thwarted by Mane drifting offside.
Picking up where they left off, Klopp’s team threatened quickly after the break when the lively Coutinho’s free kick forced Rebrov into action.
But that proved the only real chance during the opening exchanges of the half as Spartak largely nullified their opponents’ threat.
They were dealt a blow in the 68th minute, however, as Rebrov was forced off after colliding with Salah.
Yet his departure did not noticeably alter the pattern of the game, with Klopp sending on Daniel Sturridge and Georginio Wijnaldum in search of inspiration.
Alexander-Arnold continued to look as likely as anybody, capping another fine run by hammering narrowly over.
Even better openings fell Sturridge’s way before the end, but the England man failed to control when six yards out, and volleyed over from similar range soon after.
And the final confirmation that it would not be Liverpool’s night came six minutes into injury time when Rebrov’s replacement, Alexander Selikhov, made a sublime one-handed save to keep out Salah’s bullet header.
In other Champions League action, Ben Yedder’s hat-trick gave Sevilla a resounding 3-0 win against Maribor.
