Sevilla’s Guido Pizarro scored a 93rd-minute equaliser to complete an incredible comeback from three goals down to draw 3-3 against Liverpool on Tuesday in a pulsating Champions League Group E clash.
Liverpool were on the verge of sealing qualification to the last 16 for the first time since 2009 but Pizarro stabbed home from a corner deep into stoppage time to deny them.
Sadio Mane headed home in between two Roberto Firmino strikes to put Liverpool three goals up within 30 minutes, but Sevilla came back from the dead after the break.
Wissam Ben Yedder netted twice before Pizarro’s late equaliser, leaving Liverpool top with nine points, Sevilla second with eight and Spartak Moscow third with six, after they drew 1-1 with Maribor in the group’s other game.
“It feels like we lost but we didn’t lose. There is a game to go and it’s still in our hands but at the moment it feels really bad,” Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp told BT Sport.
The German’s side tore into the hosts from the off with Firmino pouncing in the second minute after Georginio Wijnaldum flicked Philippe Coutinho’s corner into his path.
Mane doubled the lead in the 22nd minute as Liverpool scored an almost identical goal to their first. This time it was Firmino flicking Coutinho’s corner towards Mane, who dived in to head home.
The forward turned provider eight minutes later when his shot was tipped into Firmino’s path by Sergio Rico, leaving the Brazilian a tap-in for the third.
Liverpool’s defensive frailties, however, were exposed as Eduardo Berizzo’s side completed a year unbeaten at home in all competitions, with two Alberto Moreno errors helping them on their way.
The Spanish left back helped out his former club by conceding a silly foul to the right of the area and Ever Banega’s free kick was headed in by Ben Yedder in the 51st minute.
Moreno then brought down the French striker in the area just before the hour mark and Ben Yedder found the net with the resulting penalty twice, after his first effort was disallowed for encroachment, before Pizarro’s last-gasp equaliser.
“When you are faithful to attacking play, football ends up paying you back,” said Sevilla coach Berizzo.
“Football shows you should always keep believing and that is what happened today.”