Liverpool's stuttering start is a concern, questions remain over Loris Karius, Roberto Firmino has a poor night

Five things we learned from a disappointing draw for Jurgen Klopp's side

Stuttering start is a concern

‘Win or die’ read the spectacular if slightly ominous banner raised by one part of Spartak Moscow’s Otkrytiye Arena before the kick-off. Liverpool, however, were not victorious here and this unsatisfactory 1-1 draw will lead some to question whether they can survive this rather kind Champions League group.

It is far too early for doom and gloom but two points from two games can only be described as disappointing, especially when considering that Jurgen Klopp’s side had a penalty to make it 3-1 against Sevilla at Anfield two weeks’ ago before eventually drawing 2-2. This game should’ve been won too, such was Liverpool’s dominance, but chances were not converted.

A double header against Maribor now follows and anything less than six more points will bring cause for concern.

‘Fab Four’ play a bum note

For the first time this season, Klopp was able to field his new ‘Fab Four’ - Sadio Mané, Philippe Coutinho, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino. Liverpool’s attack has looked dangerous in these last few weeks, but it could well be devastating in the months to come.

Here, though, the four-piece lacked rhythm. Salah, Mané and Coutinho endeavoured to their best all night, with the latter two combining well for Liverpool’s equaliser, but Firmino, the slightly more unfashionable member, had a night to forget.

The Brazilian usually ties Klopp’s attack together, dragging defenders, creating the space and rounding off any loose ends. He was well off the pace this time though, even looking a little lethargic, and the others struggled to create space of their own. It was a reminder of just how important Firmino is when on song.

Questions remain over Karius

Loris Karius said on Monday that he sees appearances in the Champions League as a chance to “make the next step”. Someone ought to have reminded him that this is supposed to be European football’s elite club competition, not a training ground exercise. In any case, his display did little to dislodge Simon Mignolet as Klopp’s nominal number one.

He could certainly have done better with Fernando’s free-kick. Karius’ positioning was questionable but his sluggish reactions were fatal and the strike went past him despite it moving relatively central to goal.

Klopp admitted a few weeks ago that Mignolet was not happy with the decision and after playing a key part securing Liverpool’s place in this competition at the tail end of last season, not to mention his penalty save in the qualifier against Hoffenheim, Mignolet has every right to feel aggrieved. Karius, so far, has done nothing to silence complaints.

Can’s decision making must improve

While Karius earned much of the blame for Spartak’s opener, rewind a clip of it by 60 seconds or so, before Coutinho concedes the free-kick, and observe why there are sections of Liverpool’s support base that are still sceptical about Emre Can.

The midfielder ran into trouble in the middle of the park and under pressure from several Spartak shirts, carried the ball vertically across the pitch to the touchline. As if that was not bad enough, he attempted to save a throw-in by playing a no-look pass back towards the Liverpool goal. In doing so, he started the Spartak move that resulted in Fernando’s free-kick.

A Can error was at the root of Yassim Ben Yedder’s opener for Sevilla in the 2-2 draw a fortnight ago too, when he ducked out of a hefty but routine challenge. The midfielder, who is yet to renew his commitment to the club and sign a new deal, has improved over the last 12 months but these moments of poor decision-making too often let him down.

Spartak left to feed off scraps

We all know the story by now. Liverpool dominate, restrict their opponents to all but a handful of attempts on goal yet still fail to get the result they want.

It is a curious and worrying pattern for Klopp, but there is a positive for him to take from his side’s defensive performance here. Fernando’s goal can be put down to one, perhaps two, individual errors - the sort of thing that should not be repeated.

That has not always been the case recently, despite Klopp usually citing either mistakes or bad luck each time his side have shipped goals. Spartak offered next to nothing bar that one strike, with Liverpool limiting them effectively throughout. It may not seem like much, but it is something for their defence to build on.