Liverpool surrendered a three-goal lead in the second half to shockingly draw 3-3 at Sevilla in Champions League Group E play on Tuesday.
A Sadio Mane goal was bookended by Roberto Firmino's brace as a rampant Liverpool stormed to a commanding 3-0 lead at half-time. But second-half goals from Wissam Ben Yedder, Nolito and Guido Pizarro ensured a crushing result for the Premier League club, who would have qualified for the knockout stage with a win.
It took Jurgen Klopp's men only two minutes to put their nose in front at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. From a corner kick, Firmino pounced on Georginio Wijnaldum's flick of a Philippe Coutinho cross and smashed home at the back post.
Sevilla were unlucky not to convert a pair of clear chances not long after -- Nolito seeing his shot from inside the box touched onto the post by a quick-reacting Loris Karius and Ben Yedder firing inches wide from an angle.
And Liverpool made them pay in the 20th minute. Firmino was again involved when, from a corner, the Brazil international redirected for Mane, whose well-placed diving header at the back post left Sergio Rico no chance.
Wissam Ben Yedder scored a goal in Sevilla's dramatic comeback. Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Firmino then bagged his brace on the half-hour mark with the easiest of finishes after Mane, who'd run in behind the defence, saw his low shot parried straight at the former Hoffenheim man, who slotted into the empty net from close range.
Sevilla, though, showed fight coming out of the break, and had their persistence rewarded in the 51st minute when Ben Yedder headed past Karius from an Ever Banega free kick.
Sevilla earned a penalty on the hour mark after Alberto Moreno kicked Ben Yedder after a poor first touch from a back-pass. Nolito's successful try from the spot was retaken due to encroachment, but he sent Karius the wrong way with his second attempt to cut Liverpool's advantage to just a goal.
The home side nearly had an equaliser minutes later, but Karius tipped Sergio Escudero's sensational chested volley off the crossbar.
Klopp made two changes to shore up the defence, taking off Philippe Coutinho and Moreno for Emre Can and James Milner.
And the substitutions appeared to bear fruit until three minutes into stoppage time when, from another set piece, Pizarro bundled home from close range to send the home fans into hysterics.
Source: espn.co.uk