Rubin Kazan 0-1 Liverpool

Jordon Ibe signed for Liverpool from Wycombe in 2012

Liverpool gave themselves the chance to qualify for the last 32 of the Europa League with a game to spare with victory over Rubin Kazan.

James Milner shot against the crossbar early on for a dominant Liverpool after Roberto Firmino's through ball.

The deserved opener came after the break when the impressive Jordon Ibe struck home his first goal for the club from 20 yards.

Milner and Ibe had shots saved before the visitors held off late pressure.

Second-placed Liverpool now trail Group B leaders Sion by two points but are three ahead of Bordeaux, who visit Anfield on 26 November.

The Reds will qualify for the knockout stages if they win that match, with their last game a trip to Switzerland to face Sion.

So far, so good for Klopp?

Jurgen Klopp's appointment as Liverpool boss was greeted with almost universal excitement by Reds fans after a disappointing start to the season under Brendan Rodgers.

Thursday's win - their first in this season's Europa League - was their third in succession and supporters will have seen nothing to suggest their belief in Klopp is misplaced.

A new high-tempo, direct pressing style left Rubin Kazan with just 32% possession and seven shots - none on target - compared to Liverpool's 23.

The result means Klopp is unbeaten in his opening six matches, a positive start to his tenure.

New era still a work in progress

With Daniel Sturridge and Danny Ings still injured and Christian Benteke only just back, Liverpool looked a little toothless in the final third.

Their approach play and continual pressing of their hosts resulted in total domination, but just six shots on target from 23 attempts.

The hosts looked disinterested offensively for large periods but Liverpool's failure to kill them off almost cost them dear as the Russians pressed late on.

A new approach in Europe?

Rodgers made a host of changes for Liverpool's opening two Europa League matches of the season

But Klopp named a strong side for the second successive match, despite leaving Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho on the substitutes' bench.

Securing Champions League qualification has to be the main aim, but not even a 4,000-mile round trip persuaded Klopp to leave some of his stars in Liverpool.

Man of the match: Jordon Ibe

Liverpool's 19-year-old winger was a threat throughout and his performance was rewarded with his first goal for the club. He was also given a post-match hug by Klopp, who ran onto the pitch shouting "Ibeeeeeeee" before embracing him

Manager reaction

Klopp told the Liverpool Echo:"Jordon is a skilful player and a big talent - fast, strong, good at dribbling

"He has to learn so much but has a real good base. He feels good. You could see it in this match.

"Like everyone, he has a long way to go. If he's prepared to listen then he will be very good."

Stats you need to know

• Rubin Kazan changed their official name to FC Rubin last month
• They had only lost once previously in the Kazan Arena, a stadium that will be used in the 2018 World Cup
• Liverpool are the first English team to win in Kazan, with the Russians having beaten Wigan, Chelsea and Tottenham by one-goal margins
• Liverpool have not lost an away European game they have scored in since April 2010, a run of 10 matches

What next?

Liverpool will attempt to make it four straight wins in all competitions when they host Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Sunday.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Rubin Kazan

• 1Ryzhikov
• 21CotugnoSubstituted forUstinovat 81'minutes
• 5Kverkvelia
• 88Kambolov
• 3Nabiullin
• 77Georgiev
• 15KislyakSubstituted forAkhmetovat 70'minutes
• 99Kanunnikov
• 10MarquesSubstituted forOzdoevat 45'minutes
• 61Karadeniz
• 11Devic

Substitutes

• 4Lemos
• 13Haghighi
• 14Bilyaletdinov
• 22Dyadyun
• 27Ozdoev
• 49Ustinov
• 85Akhmetov

Liverpool

• 22Mignolet
• 2Clyne
• 6LovrenBooked at 76mins
• 17Sakho
• 18Moreno
• 23CanSubstituted forSkrtelat 90+3'minutes
• 24Allen
• 33Ibe
• 11FirminoSubstituted forLeivaat 81'minutes
• 7MilnerSubstituted forLallanaat 61'minutes
• 9Benteke

Substitutes

• 10Coutinho
• 20Lallana
• 21Leiva
• 27Origi
• 32Brannagan
• 34Bogdan
• 37Skrtel

Referee:

Kevin Blom

Attendance:

41,585

Match Stats

Home TeamRubin KazanAway TeamLiverpool

Possession

Home32%

Away68%

Shots

Home7

Away23

Shots on Target

Home0

Away6

Corners

Home1

Away7

Fouls

Home13

Away19

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Rubin Kazan 0, Liverpool 1.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+5'

Second Half ends, Rubin Kazan 0, Liverpool 1.

Posted at 90'+4'

Christian Benteke (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 90'+4'

Foul by Vitaly Ustinov (Rubin Kazan).

Posted at 90'+3'

Jordon Ibe (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 90'+3'

Foul by Gökdeniz Karadeniz (Rubin Kazan).

Substitution

Posted at 90'+3'

Substitution, Liverpool. Martin Skrtel replaces Emre Can.

Posted at 90'+2'

Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Saba Kverkvelia.

Posted at 90'+1'

Offside, Liverpool. Adam Lallana tries a through ball, but Jordon Ibe is caught offside.

Posted at 90'

Foul by Christian Benteke (Liverpool).

Posted at 90'

Ilzat Akhmetov (Rubin Kazan) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 89'

Foul by Adam Lallana (Liverpool).

Posted at 89'

Blagoy Georgiev (Rubin Kazan) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Posted at 87'

Attempt missed. Jordon Ibe (Liverpool) left footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Lucas Leiva.

Posted at 85'

Foul by Joe Allen (Liverpool).

Posted at 85'

Maksim Kanunnikov (Rubin Kazan) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 84'

Attempt missed. Marko Devic (Rubin Kazan) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Vitaly Ustinov with a cross.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Alberto Moreno (Liverpool).

Posted at 83'

Vitaly Ustinov (Rubin Kazan) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 83'

Foul by Lucas Leiva (Liverpool).

Posted at 83'

Gökdeniz Karadeniz (Rubin Kazan) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Substitution

Posted at 81'

Substitution, Liverpool. Lucas Leiva replaces Roberto Firmino.

Substitution

Posted at 81'

Substitution, Rubin Kazan. Vitaly Ustinov replaces Guillermo Cotugno.

Posted at 80'

Attempt missed. Ruslan Kambolov (Rubin Kazan) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right. Assisted by Blagoy Georgiev.

Posted at 80'

Attempt saved. Christian Benteke (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jordon Ibe with a cross.

Posted at 79'

Attempt blocked. Maksim Kanunnikov (Rubin Kazan) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Guillermo Cotugno.

Posted at 78'

Foul by Adam Lallana (Liverpool).

Posted at 78'

Guillermo Cotugno (Rubin Kazan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 77'

Attempt missed. Ruslan Kambolov (Rubin Kazan) right footed shot from outside the box is too high from a direct free kick.

Booking

Posted at 76'

Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Posted at 76'

Foul by Dejan Lovren (Liverpool).

Posted at 76'

Marko Devic (Rubin Kazan) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 75'

Foul by Emre Can (Liverpool).

Posted at 75'

Blagoy Georgiev (Rubin Kazan) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Substitution

Posted at 70'

Substitution, Rubin Kazan. Ilzat Akhmetov replaces Sergei Kislyak.

Posted at 69'

Foul by Christian Benteke (Liverpool).

Posted at 69'

Ruslan Kambolov (Rubin Kazan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 68'

Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Sergei Ryzhikov.

Posted at 68'

Attempt saved. Jordon Ibe (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Adam Lallana.

Posted at 68'

Attempt blocked. Magomed Ozdoev (Rubin Kazan) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.

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