Rubin Kazan 0 Liverpool 1, Europa League match report: Jordan Ibe secures win for Jurgen Klopp's side
Rubin Kazan vs Liverpool - 19-year-old scores only goal of the game as Reds' makeover under Klopp grows ever more eye-catching
Rubin Kazan0 - 1Liverpool
- J. Ibe52
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Liverpool’s makeover under Jurgen Klopp grows ever more eye-catching.
Jordon Ibe’s winner in Kazan took the Klopp Anfield transformation on tour. Ibe was one of several players who looked bereft of confidence and direction a few weeks ago but he was exceptional here.
His superbly taken strike on 53 minutes was symptomatic of the shift in gear so many have undergone over the last six games.
This was a European venture in which the performance and result were in tandem, Liverpool worthy of a far greater advantage before Rubin Kazan banished their defensive caution in the last 15 minutes.
Ibe celebrates his goal
It had been just under three years since Liverpool last won away in Europe, with the line-up that defeated Udinese in the Europa League in December 2012 demonstrating the scale of the transition during the intervening period.
Of the starters then and now only Joe Allen – who came in for Lucas Leiva – remained in the eleven in Russia. Liverpool have been to some esteemed venues since and their reputation has taken a battering.
Among the numerous other tasks for Klopp, restoring the sheen on the Liverpool badge abroad was a priority. Liverpool used to conquer Europe like battle-scarred warriors. Recently they’ve resembled Dad’s Army aiming plastic guns at unflustered enemies. This was as good as they’ve been on the continent in a long time.
Jurgen Klopp mulls things over from the sidelines
Klopp’s determination to change perceptions was evident in a starting eleven including Christian Benteke – the first time he has started since September. More pertinently Klopp was been able to call upon a senior striker for the first time since moving to Anfield.
Despite Benteke’s presence the opening stages played out in frustrating familiarity, with Liverpool’s territorial and technical dominance unable to yield a first half goal.
They should have led before Kazan had touched the ball, a prolonged period of possession for the first four minutes ending with Firmino sorcery - nutmegging his Russian marker - to send James Milner clear. The midfielder struck the bar. Bad luck or poor finishing depending on your perspective. It would prove an infuriating miss as the visitors were unable to gain the early advantage their play deserved.
Emre Can protects the ball during the first half
This was prototype Klopp, Liverpool full of energy, high tempo and scurrying like deranged mice on a cheese hunt to retrieve possession when it was lost.
Kazan were sitting back, but often that was more through force than design as the white shirts kept swarming. But too often Liverpool worked their way to promising areas only to fail with the final ball, the crossing especially tame.
Milner, Benteke and Emre Can took to shooting from distance, which was a sign of frustration and impatience rather than confidence or creativity.
Nathaniel Clyne gets forward from right-back
On the occasions the delivery was more inviting from the flanks, credit was due to the Kazan’s centre-halves, Ruslan Kambolov among these flinging himself to make a last ditch intervention to stop Benteke heading in from six yards.
First half injury time brought the most unlikely block of all, keeper Sergei Ryzhikov momentarily wrong-footed by Jordon Ibe’s shot, only to recover in time to leap backwards to stop Can’s header drifting over the line.
Hand on head was the pose of the half for Klopp and his side. The consolation was they were unrecognisable from the side that played Kazan at Anfield two weeks ago, let alone the Liverpool team that’s limped through Europe for the last few years.
The reward finally came on 53 minutes, Kazan carved open by Firmino’s clever flick freeing up the centre of the park for Ibe to take advantage.
The youngster’s pace and ball control was matched by the poise of the finish as he steadied himself and stroked past Ryzhikov, in off the post. It was Ibe’s first senior goal for Liverpool and reflective of another player transformed under new management.
Rather than settle for the slender lead Liverpool looked for more. Both Milner and Lovren were denied by Ryzhikov as more spaces were visible in the Russian defence.
Kazan finally showed attacking intent in the latter stages as Liverpool’s defence was belatedly worked, but Simon Mignolet was not required and Klopp was able to celebrate a deserved win.
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