Five things we learned as Liverpool blow a three-goal lead to draw with Sevilla in the Champions League

Liverpool's mental scars will take a long time to heal and the club's defence remains a significant worry ... but at least Naby Keita gives supporters a reason to smile

Liverpool blew a three-goal lead against Sevilla to leave Champions League Group E wide open.

It took Liverpool less than two-minutes to score as Roberto Firmino finished Georginio Wijnaldum’s knock-on from a corner.

Just a few minutes later and the Reds scored a carbon copy second. This time Mane grabbed the goal, finishing Firmino’s assist.

When Firmino made it 3-0 it looked game over but Wissam Ben Yedder’s second-half brace ensured a nervous finish.

And in the final seconds Guido Pizarro grabbed an unlikely equaliser to cap a remarkable comeback.

It means Sevilla can still top the group ahead of Liverpool, if Jurgen Klopp's side fail to beat Spartak Moscow later this month. Sevilla meanwhile travel to Maribor for their final group-stage fixture.

Here are five things we learned from the draw.

Mental scars will take a long time to heal

Liverpool's attack is formidable (Getty)

Liverpool’s first-half performance in this match was absolutely flawless and suggested a statement victory was in the works.

Sevilla haven't lost at home all season – winning all but two – but Liverpool ripped them apart in the first-half and looked as though they were good value for all three points.

But they then collapsed, as Ben Yedder scored twice to set up a nervous finish before Guido Pizarro grabbed an equaliser in the final seconds.

Liverpool should never have allowed Sevilla back into this game and the mental scars from this draw will not heal anytime soon.

Liverpool shut Sevilla up early

Firmino scored within two minutes (Getty)

There was an electric atmosphere at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium prior to kick-off and it was obvious that Liverpool would need to find some way of shutting this capacity-crowd up early.

In the end, it took Jurgen Klopp’s side just 88-seconds to stun the Sevilla fans into silence. Gigi Wijnaldum flicked on Philippe Coutinho’s corner, and Roberto Firmino was lurking at the back post to slam the ball home.

It was just the start Liverpool needed. Strangely Sevilla spent much of the opening-half on the front foot but Liverpool’s early goal meant they could spend much of the first 45 sitting deep, before padding forward on the counter-attack – which is what the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah are best at.

However it didn't last as Sevilla began to pile on the pressure and in the end the raucous home crowd had the last laugh.

Sevilla’s defence hand Liverpool the advantage

Liverpool were gifted their second goal (AFP/Getty Images)

For one of Spain’s best sides – Sevilla do not have a particularly robust defence. In La Liga this season they have already shipped 12 in 12 games which is one more than eighth-placed Leganes, six more than Atletico Madrid and eight more than league leaders Barcelona.

Liverpool have their own problems at the back, of course, and so this game was always likely to guarantee goals.

If conceding one sloppy goal from a corner was not bad enough, they then made the exact same mistake for Liverpool’s second. This time it was Firmino who got the knock on, with a grateful Mane finishing things up at the back stick.

But Liverpool’s defence isn't much better

Liverpool's defence had their moments (Getty)

Liverpool’s attacking players are brimming with confidence but their defence remains a worry.

Sevilla’s first goal came from a free-kick, with Wissam Ben Yedder practically gifted a free header to nod the ball beyond Loris Karius. It was a goal to make Klopp wince.

Their second would also have made him furious as Alberto Moreno needlessly lunged in to set up a nervous final half an hour.

Liverpool's defence was nervous from that point forward and so the late equaliser felt crushingly inevitable.

Meanwhile in Monaco…

At least events in Monaco gave Liverpool fans some cheer, as Naby Keita scored an absolute rocket for RB Leipzig against Monaco to excited supporters ahead of his transfer next summer.

In truth the midfielder has struggled for form since news of his impending transfer was announced, but there can be no doubt that he will improve Liverpool – especially if he continues scoring goals such as this.

Picking up the ball on the edge of the box, Keita spun around two players before side-footing a low shot beyond Danijel Subašić and into the corner of the net.