Europa League - Borussia Dortmund 1-1 Liverpool: 5 talking points
Jurgen Klopp’s emotional reunion with the Signal Iduna Park ended in a 1-1 draw as his Liverpool side were denied victory by his former side Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of the quarter-finals in the Europa League.
On his first return to his old stomping ground since leaving the Westfalenstadion in 2015, emotions were expectedly running high. However, Klopp meant business when Liverpool got their noses ahead after Divock Origi struck just nine minutes from half-time.
The Reds appeared to be cruising to a dream victory at Dortmund, but Mats Hummels threw a spanner in their works when he struck a header three minutes into the second half to level the scores.
The teams huffed and puffed in search of a winner, but to no avail as it ended honours even, leaving the tie keenly poised heading into the second leg at Anfield in a week’s time.
Here are the major talking points emerged from the top-billing Europa League clash.
1) A warm homecoming for Klopp
Former Borussia Dortmund honcho Jurgen Klopp reunited with his old club for the first time since stepping down from the managerial job after the 3-1 defeat to Wolfsburg in the DFB-Pokal Cup final last year, and received a warm welcome.
The tie between Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool was obviously going to be a top-draw one, but Klopp’s return to Dortmund was all that hogged the limelight in the pre-match build-up.
After all, with five titles under his belt and a Champions League final appearance in seven glorious years at the helm, he was still the ruling king of the hearts of all Dortmund fans.
He may have failed to grab a win in the game, but Liverpool’s draw wasn’t disappointing, and one which keeps his side in the driving seat for the second leg at home.