Liverpool 1-1 Sion: Adam Lallana scores but Reds held again in Europa League

Liverpool recorded a second straight draw in the Europa League as they were held 1-1 at home by Swiss side Sion.

Adam Lallana's early goal (4) was answered by Ebenezer Asifuah (18), and a much-changed Liverpool were unable to find a winner despite several second-half chances to do so.

Divock Origi, Danny Ings and Lallana were all guilty, and even the late introduction of creator-in-chief Philippe Coutinho, one of many rested ahead of a Super Sunday derby at Everton, failed to bring a breakthrough.

A smattering of half-hearted Anfield boos greeted a result that leaves Sion top of Group B on four points, two ahead of the Reds and Bordeaux, who drew at bottom side Rubin Kazan.

Lallana's goal, side-footed from close range after Origi had muscled his way to the right byline, looked like the precursor to a comfortable pre-derby night on Merseyside as Jordan Ibe went close at the near post and Ings saw a shot charged down.

But Sion equalised from nowhere or, more accurately, from a poor piece of Liverpool play as Nathaniel Clyne presented the ball to Xavier Kouassi in his own half.

The Sion skipper's ball over the top was delivered swiftly and Ibe, who had crept forward with his side in possession, could not recover in time to prevent Assifuah poking through the legs of Simon Mignolet.

Sion's weekend defeat to the Swiss league's bottom side had left their chairman questioning every player's future, but suddenly they were full of confidence as Assifuah found space time and again in the right channel.

Still the better chances were Liverpool's, a correct linesman's flag denying Ings, who again failed to mark his England call-up with a goal when he completely missed Lallana's juicy pass.

He was substituted on the hour, and immediately Origi looked menacing in a more central role, striding onto Joe Allen's pass and dummying a defender, only to hit the legs of Andris Vanins.

The goalkeeper denied the same player with his legs after Coutinho's toe-poked pass and then kept out Lallana in similar fashion, although the goalscorer - 10 yards out - should never have given him the chance after a lovely first touch.

Assifuah tested Mignolet at the other end as Sion retained a distant menace on the break until cramp ended his evening inside an aimless final 10 minutes.