Liverpool will return to Anfield in a strong position after earning a 1-1 draw against Borussia Dortmund in their Europa League quarter-final first leg.
Divock Origi fired Liverpool into a first-half lead before Mats Hummels’ header three minutes after half-time restored parity.
On Jurgen Klopp’s first return to his former club, both sides had further opportunities but Simon Mignolet denied Marco Reus and Roman Weidenfeller kept out Origi.
The result leaves the tie evenly poised heading into the return fixture on April 14, but the omens are good for Liverpool, who have progressed from 11 of their last 12 European ties when they have drawn the first leg away from home.
Klopp opted for Origi instead of Daniel Sturridge in the only change from the Reds’ 1-1 draw with Tottenham, and the young Belgian put his side ahead nine minutes before half-time.
James Milner’s flick landed at his feet and the forward kept his composure, sliding the ball past Weidenfeller for his sixth goal of the season.
Dejan Lovren had squandered an earlier opportunity to put Liverpool ahead when he headed straight at the Dortmund ‘keeper, while superb defending from Mamadou Sakho denied Henrikh Mkhitaryan a tap-in at the other end.
There was four minutes of first-half stoppage time after a nasty clash of heads between Weidenfeller and Lovren, leaving time for both sides to miss chances in a frantic finish.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang went close for the hosts before Mignolet kept out Reus, but Origi wasted the best opportunity when he saw his chip saved after breaking through one-on-one with Weidenfeller.
And the Bundesliga side made him pay three minutes after the break when Hummels powered a header past Mignolet to bring Dortmund level.
vren had squandered an earlier opportunity to put Liverpool ahead when he headed straight at the Dortmund ‘keeper, while superb defending from Mamadou Sakho denied Henrikh Mkhitaryan a tap-in at the other end.
The defender was not picked up after a short corner, and rose above Adam Lallana to head home Dortmund’s fifth Europa League goal from a corner, the most of any side in the competition this season.
Liverpool, without captain Jordan Henderson in the second half after the midfielder was replaced with a knee injury, responded well and only a strong hand from Weidenfeller prevented Philippe Coutinho from re-establishing the visitors’ lead.
Reus then drew a comfortable save from Mignolet with a free-kick, while efforts from Nathaniel Clyne and Coutinho kept Weidenfeller involved.
But the game slowed as both sides tired in the final stages, and neither team was able to find a winner, leaving the tie in the balance ahead of next week’s second leg at Anfield.
Source:SkySports
