Analysis as Sadio Mane is standout performer from Liverpool's attacking quartet in Spartak Moscow draw

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  • Liverpool’s eight-year wait for an away win in the Champions League continued in Russia as Jurgen Klopp’s much-vaunted ‘Fab Four’ failed to strike the right chord in the 1-1 draw with Spartak Moscow.

    The best two of his attacking quartet Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane combined for the Brazilian to equalise Fernando’s free-kick in the first half.

    But as a unit there were more misses than hits in their first competitive start together as a second successive draw in the competition made it just three wins in the last 14 group matches and handed the advantage to Sevilla, who lead lead Group E by two points after their win over Maribor.

    Here we look in-depth at the performance of Mane.

    STATS

    Goals – 0

    Assists – 1

    Shots – 1

    Shots on target – 1

    Touches – 44

    Key passes – 2

    Dribbles – 5

    Dispossessed – 0

    Aerials won – 1

    Andrei Eschenko attempts to block Sadio Mane

    Andrei Eschenko attempts to block Sadio Mane

    EFFECTIVENESS

    The fantastic four was given its first outing as Mane, Firmino, Coutinho and Salah all spearheaded a dynamic Liverpool attack but ultimately the result was anything but fantastic.

    Mane and Coutinho, though, can be absolved of blame for Liverpool’s inability to find a winner. The two were comfortably the visitor’s biggest threat going forward and the Senegalese enjoyed a lot of success up against the ponderous Andrey Eshchenko.

    Indeed, he was the option for Coutinho as the play transitioned through him from defence and he was unlucky not to come away with another assist or a goal before being bizarrely taken off.

    The substitution, unless mitigated by injury, was perplexing as he was brought off with 20 minutes remaining for Daniel Sturridge with the anonymous Roberto Firmino switching out wide.

    No doubt Jurgen Klopp will be the target of frustration for bringing off their biggest threat with the game still there to be won.

    KEY MOMENTS

    10th min CHANCE: Mane is the clear avenue of success early on as he beats his man Kutepov to the byline and his cross into the box is only just cleared.

    17th min CHANCE: The 25-year-old drops into a pocket of space on the left and delivers a delicious ball with his weaker left foot to Firmino who gets in between the two centre-halves only to see his header saved.

    24th min OFFSIDE: Excellent work from Alexander-Arnold who fires in a pin-point cross from the right and it’s superbly directed home by the Senegalese but he’s moved too soon and is rightly flagged for offside.

    31st min ASSIST: Liverpool at their slick best to equalise. A quick ball into Mane and the give and go sees Coutinho into the box and the Brazilian then cleverly fires a crisp strike to draw the sides level.

    44th min OFFSIDE: A dreadful corner from Spartak allows Liverpool to counter with speed and in a five v two, Henderson has the ball on the right and slides an accurate low ball into the box but Mane agonisingly misses completely. He is offside regardless.

    57th min CHANCE: Perfectly weighted through ball from Mane finds Salah as he races into the box but keeper Rebrov is out bravely to make the stop and is injured in the process.

    69th min SUB: Daniel Sturridge is coming on, Mane is coming off.

    Sadio Mane's header is disallowed for offside

    Sadio Mane’s header is disallowed for offside

    VERDICT

    As is always the case, Mane was Liverpool’s brightest performer with his direct runs into the channel and dangerous crossing into the box providing ample threat.

    His telepathic interchange with Coutinho for the equaliser was outstanding and only Klopp will know why he hauled him off with 20 minutes remaining.

    7.5/10

    All statistics are compiled using whoscored.com

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