Liverpool will take a precious away goal back to Anfield after an entertaining 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund on Jürgen Klopp’s return to his former club in the first leg of the sides’ UEFA Europa League quarter-final.
For a match that started at a furious pace, goalmouth action was at an early premium. Mamadou Sakho blocked from the impressive Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the 16th minute, but otherwise opportunities were limited during the opening half-hour.
That changed, however, when Liverpool took the lead against the run of play. Immediately after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had drawn a good save from Simon Mignolet, James Milner nodded the ball forward at the other end for Divock Origi, who calmly slotted past Roman Weidenfeller.
Dortmund responded strongly, with Mignolet called into action on several occasions, and continued in the same fashion after the interval. Indeed, three minutes into the second period Dortmund were deservedly level, Mats Hummels rising highest to plant a powerful header past Mignolet.
The visitors, however, stayed in the game, with Philippe Coutinho eliciting an outstanding stop from Weidenfeller before the hour-mark. Dortmund finished in the ascendancy, though ultimately both team were content to take the tie, still perfectly poised, to Anfield.
