“Win Or Die” proclaimed the banner that covered one side of a raucous stadium before kick-off. It was an extreme demand of Spartak Moscow, a strange motivational technique and as it transpired they were delighted with a draw at home to Liverpool. It was Jürgen Klopp who departed angry, exasperated and repeating himself.

For a second successive Champions League game Liverpool extracted just a point from a contest they controlled, created the clearer chances and conceded as a consequence of their own lapses.

Klopp’s team laid siege to Spartak Moscow’s goal in the final stages – they had 17 attempts on goal to their opponents’ three in total – but the finale was in keeping with the visitors’ overall display. The substitute Daniel Sturridge missed several openings and Spartak’s substitute goalkeeper Aleksandr Selikhov produced a stunning save to deny Mohamed Salah at point-blank range in stoppage time. Liverpool maintained their intensity and superiority but it was another exhausting night for modest rewards.

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“I have said it a few times already,” said Klopp, who saw the goalkeeper Loris Karius easily beaten by Fernando for the opening goal before Philippe Coutinho equalised swiftly and in style. “At this moment we are not the most lucky team in world football. It is not that things go easy for us. We did well in creating chances against a very defensive-orientated team and we didn’t given them many chances. Their free-kick [for Fernando’s goal] was not a foul. We won the ball clearly. There were good saves from both of their goalkeepers and we also made wrong decisions at the decisive moment. That is how football is and the only way you can change it is to do it again and again and again. We will carry on.”

Two points from two games represents an inauspicious haul from what, on paper, was a generous draw for the group stage. Liverpool have not won away in the Champions League since defeating Debrecen in 2009 but that unwanted record should have ended in Moscow. In seeking the positives Klopp will know his team have a clear edge over the champions of Russia, and showed the same at home against Sevilla, but unless they discover a more ruthless streak their hopes of qualification will become more problematic than they should.

Klopp said: “The only thing is to go through the group and that is still possible for us. We should have won both games but we didn’t and that is our fault. There were a lot of good things but it was not a good result. We are strong enough to qualify. The door is open but we have to walk through it. We can see a bit of light at the moment. We have to stay cool, work hard and we will be all right.”

The Liverpool manager started with all his artists – Coutinho, Sadio Mané, Roberto Firmino and Salah – for the first time in a competitive game this season and his team were quickly in the ascendancy. Trent Alexander-Arnold had the game’s first chance but volleyed wide of Artem Rebrov’s goal. Serdar Tasci, one of Spartak’s three central defenders, made a last-ditched challenge on Salah as he looked to capitalise on Coutinho’s piercing pass and the Egypt international forced Rebrov into a low save from Jordan Henderson’s quickly taken free-kick.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Philippe Coutinho scores the equaliser for Liverpool in the first half. Photograph: Zemanek/BPI/Rex/Shutterstock

The pressure in the early stages was unrelenting. When the home side failed to clear from Rebrov’s save, Mané whipped in a delightful cross from the left for the unmarked Firmino to head goalwards from close range. The Brazilian’s effort had power and accuracy but the Spartak captain produced a fine one-handed save to deny Firmino on his 100th appearance for Liverpool.

Liverpool had the Russian defence creaking but, in keeping with too many performances this season, found themselves dominant yet trailing to a needless goal. There was no faulting the work-rate or commitment of Spartak as they looked to ease the pressure on their coach, Massimo Carrera, after a run of three wins in 11 league games this season. But, without the injured Quincy Promes, they posed no threat to Karius until Emre Can needlessly conceded possession and set off a chain of events that led to Coutinho fouling Aleksandr Samedov 25 yards from the Liverpool goal.

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The free-kick was central and Fernando’s execution flew over the Liverpool wall and beyond Karius’s despairing dive to his left. It was a well-struck effort but Klopp’s Champions League goalkeeper could have done better with a shot that did not have to find the top corner to give the hosts the lead. It would Spartak’s only shot of the first half. “It was a brilliant free‑kick,” was Klopp’s take.

Mané thought he had equalised almost immediately but his diving header was correctly ruled out for offside. He played an instrumental role when Liverpool deservedly levelled, however, taking Coutinho’s pass on the corner of the penalty area and releasing the Brazil international with a perfectly weighted return. Coutinho gave the impressive Rebrov no chance as he lifted the ball over the advancing goalkeeper as he closed in from the angle.

Spartak’s keeper was forced off with a knee injury after colliding with Salah in the penalty area – one of two pushes on the forward that Klopp argued should have been a penalty with the fourth official – but Liverpool were unable to seriously test his replacement until stoppage time. Salah threw himself at Alexander-Arnold’s cross and Selikhov somehow tipped the ball over his bar. Klopp’s exasperation continues.