Rubin Kazan 0-1 Liverpool: Jurgen Klopp era gathers momentum after Jordon Ibe’s first Reds goal

Jordon Ibe’s first Liverpool goal proved enough to earn the Reds a first Europa League win of the season as they edged out Rubin Kazan 1-0 in Russia.

In an encounter when Jurgen Klopp’s charges dominated proceedings from start to finish, James Milner rattled the crossbar inside the first five minutes.

Liverpool were frustrated by some resolute Rubin defending but Ibe found the breakthrough seven minutes after half-time, surging forward and firing in off the far post.

The Reds comfortably saw out the three points to leave them requiring one victory from their final two group games to progress to the knockout stages.

Klopp’s arrival on Merseyside brought with it his characteristic ‘gegenpressing’ style, and the tactic was evident throughout as the Reds players relentlessly harassed their hosts when chasing possession.

Milner very nearly crowned a fine start by the visitors, clipping the bar after being found brilliantly by Roberto Firmino.

The Reds amassed a series of half chances without showing any real cutting edge, with Rubin goalkeeper Sergej Ryzhikov producing an excellent double save in first-half stoppage time to keep proceedings level.

The second half started much the same until Ibe picked up Firmino’s clever pass, charging into space and emphatically driving into the far corner.

Milner was the next to be denied by Ryzhikov soon after as the Reds pushed for another before Ibe suffered a similar fate following a swift counter attack.

The Russian outfit briefly threatened to scupper proceedings in the final 10 minutes with a rare period of pressure but, in truth, rarely looked like finding a leveller.

The result maintains Klopp’s unbeaten start to his Liverpool tenure, which now reads three wins and three draws from the German’s first six games, with the Reds unbeaten in 12 in all competitions, stetching back to the Brendan Rodgers era.

In the other game in Group B FC Sion scored a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with Bordeaux in Switzerland.