Sevilla equaliser leaves Liverpool ruing penalty miss

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino in action with Sevilla’s Simon Kjaer REUTERS/Phil Noble

(Reuters) - Liverpool paid a heavy price for a first-half penalty miss as Sevilla grabbed a late equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw in their Champions League group E opener at Anfield on Wednesday.

The Premier League side had been cruising after overcoming the shock of Wissam Ben Yedder's fifth-minute goal to lead 2-1 at halftime.

But Roberto Firmino, who had scored Liverpool's first on 21 minutes, struck a post with a penalty just before the break, shortly after Mohamed Salah had put them ahead.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Sevilla’s Joaquin Correa scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Despite Liverpool dominating much of the second period, their defending again let them down and it was Sevilla who scored through Joaquin Correa.

The Premier League club had 24 shots on goal while their opponents had just seven -- and scored from the two that were on target.

Liverpool had only themselves to blame after dominating most of the first half and frequently threatening on the break in the second.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Liverpool's Georginio Wijnaldum in action with Sevilla’s Simon Kjaer REUTERS/Phil Noble

Sevilla scored from their first effort on goal when Dejan Lovren failed to deal with Sergio Escudero's cross from the left and Ben Yedder tapped home from close range.

But Liverpool, playing in only their second Champions League group phase in eight years, responded positively.

Georginio Wijnaldum fired wide from 20 metres, before Sadio Mane's long-range effort was saved by goalkeeper Sergio Rico.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp applauds the fans at the end of the match REUTERS/Phil Noble

Firmino headed just over before grabbing Liverpool's equaliser on 21 minutes with a tap-in following good work from Alberto Moreno.

Emre Can squandered yet another chance for the home side before Salah eased any raw nerves with Liverpool's second - a shot from 25 metres that took a wicked deflection off Simon Kjaer.

Four minutes before halftime Liverpool had an opportunity to put the game beyond the Spanish when Nicolas Pareja fouled Mane and Firmino stepped up to take the penalty.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho is substituted on REUTERS/Phil Noble

He sent Rico the wrong way but his shot struck the post and bounced to safety.

It looked like it would not matter as Juergen Klopp's team continued to take the game to Sevilla after the break.

But more shoddy finishing let them down, and as Sevilla came back into the match, Anfield grew more nervous.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Liverpool's Emre Can, Dejan Lovren and Sadio Mane looks dejected after conceding the first goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

With his team chasing the game, Sevilla coach Eduardo Berizzo was sent to the stands for preventing Liverpool's Joe Gomez from taking a quick throw-in.

Sevilla's persistence was rewarded when Correa was given plenty of time to recover after miscontrolling the ball and shot beyond Loris Karius for the equaliser.

Philippe Coutinho received a standing ovation from the Anfield faithful when he came on as a substitute on his first appearance since asking for a transfer.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino shoots at goal as Sevilla’s Simon Kjaer and Steven N'Zonzi attempt to block REUTERS/Phil Noble

And things went from bad to worse for Liverpool when Gomez was sent off for a second booking in stoppage time.

(Reporting by Neville Dalton; Editing by Toby Davis)

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Sevilla’s Joaquin Correa scores their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring their first goal with Georginio Wijnaldum Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal with Georginio Wijnaldum Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino misses the penalty REUTERS/Phil Noble

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino celebrates scoring their first goal with Sadio Mane, Georginio Wijnaldum and team mates REUTERS/Phil Noble

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Referee Danny Makkelie gestures REUTERS/Phil Noble

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Liverpool's Roberto Firmino scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Liverpool's Sadio Mane in action with Sevilla’s Jesus Navas and Gabriel Mercado Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Liverpool's Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Sevilla’s Jesus Navas in action Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Liverpool players pose for the pre match photograph REUTERS/Phil Noble

Soccer Football - Champions League - Liverpool vs Sevilla - Anfield, Liverpool, Britain - September 13, 2017 Sevilla coach Eduardo Berizzo gestures Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff