It is honours even in the group heading into matchday two as both games on matchday one ended all square, with Spartak held by Maribor and Liverpool drawing with Sevilla. What that means is a victory for either of these sides tonight would leave them in a strong position approaching the halfway point in the group, while the loser could find themselves playing catch-up for the two qualifying spots.

Before we get into that, though, let's first check out the team news...

The disappointing news for Spartak is that they are still without star striker Quincy Promes, who picked up a calf injury during a 2-0 cup victory over Kuban Krasnodar last week. The Netherlands international missed Saturday's draw with Anzhi as a result of the injury, and he has not recovered in time to start tonight - a big blow for the home side.

The striker is an international teammate of Liverpool duo Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino for Brazil - as, incidentally, is Fernando in midfield - but Adrian did not have the best of times on matchday one. He failed to have a single shot on target against Maribor, but conceded more fouls than any other player throughout all of the Champions League groups (6). He will be hoping for a reversal of those stats this evening.

The speedster was always going to be available for tonight's game as his ban only applied to domestic matches following his controversial red card in the 5-0 defeat to Manchester City, and sure enough Klopp has chosen to throw him straight back into the starting XI. Liverpool have a much better win percentage with the winger in the team, so they will be delighted to have him back.

For Coutinho it is another chance to prove his commitment to the cause following a summer which saw him heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, but he certainly went a long way to winning the fans back over with his performance against Leicester at the weekend. The Brazilian scored a sublime free kick and also got an assist in the 3-2 win over the Foxes, and Liverpool will be looking for another big performance from him tonight.

Mohamed Salah was once again on the scoresheet against Leicester to extend his stunning start to life at the club, with the winger having now scored six goals in his first nine Liverpool appearances. His pace, coupled with that of Mane and the movement of Firmino, makes for a deadly front three.

Klopp has outlined his plan to rotate three goalkeepers between tournaments, but Karius has also expressed his desire to replace Mignolet in the Premier League and, if he is to do that, then he needs to impress during these rare first-team opportunities. As for Ward, he may be forced to wait even longer following Liverpool's early exit from the EFL Cup.

Matip, Lovren and Moreno make up the rest of a back four which has been criticised heavily already this season, while Can and Henderson continue in midfield. Wijnaldum drops out for Mane.

Spartak may not be an easy touch tonight, but they are a team in relatively poor form both domestically and in Europe and they are certainly no longer the force they once were.

Spartak qualified automatically for these group stages having lifted their record 22nd Russian Premier League title, but it was their first since 2001, and the defence of that crown has not got off to the best of starts so far this season.

Massimo Carrera's side have won just three of their 11 league outings so far this term - only the bottom four have won fewer. Even if a return to the Champions League is their target this season - rather than defending their title - then they still have a lot of work to do as they are already seven points off those places.

Considering Liverpool have also been weak at the back and electric going forward at times this season, that could point to another high-scoring affair this evening.

Looking even further back, Spartak have only won two of their last eight outings, and just one of their last six in the league.

In the Champions League they have struggled here too, losing four of their last five home games in the group stages of this competition and just two of their last 17 - a run which stretches back to a 4-1 win over Arsenal in November 2000.

This is the first time Spartak have reached the group stages of this competition since 2012-13, though, while they are bidding to reach the last 16 for the first time since 2000-01. Home or away, Spartak have won just five of their last 36 Champions League fixtures - losing 25 of those and failing to keep a clean sheet in their last 11.

Jurgen Klopp's side will need no more reminders of how big an impact a momentary defensive lapse can have, but if they did then then could simply rewatch their 2-2 draw against Sevilla on matchday one when they were held to a 2-2 draw at Anfield. Liverpool dominated long spell of the game and even missed a penalty, but ultimately it was their defensive mistakes which cost them another two points.

There is always plenty of entertainment for the neutral in Liverpool's matches, but while their six league games have seen 23 goals already this season, that is split up into 12 for and 11 against - far too even a share for them to realistically mount a title bid this season.

Klopp will be hoping that their return to winning ways at the King Power Stadium - following a four-match winless streak - allows them to rediscover the early-season form which saw them win four and draw one of their opening five matches across all competitions.

It is that away form which has let Liverpool down the most so far this term, with just two wins from five outings on the road, but after beating Leicester on Saturday they are now looking to record consecutive away wins for the first time this season.

The five-time champions have an incredible pedigree in this competitions, but this has been a barren spell by their standards and they come into this match looking for their first Champions League win in their last seven attempts. Their current six-game winless run in the worst the club has ever experienced in this competition.

Overall in Europe Liverpool have won just two of their last 13 away games, drawing six and losing five in that time. Before their win at Hoffenheim in the playoffs en route to these group stages, Liverpool had been without an away European victory since beating Rubin Kazan in Russia on November 5, 2015.

Of Liverpool last three trips to these shores they have won two and drawn one, but in the Champions League their overall record is split down the middle with three wins and three defeats.

Both of these sides have strengths going forward and weaknesses at the back, but there is little doubt that Liverpool have the superior quality on the field tonight. Spartak are not in the best form and Liverpool will be desperate to make amends for their two dropped points on matchday one. We're going for an away win.

Sports Mole says: Spartak Moscow 1-3 Liverpool

The Red first thrashed Spartak 5-0 at Anfield in a match which saw Emile Heskey net a brace alongside goals from Bruno Cheyrou, Sami Hyypia and Salif Diao - not often you will find all of them on the same scoresheet - while they also ran out 3-1 winners in Moscow.

It was not all good news for Liverpool, though, as they also failed to qualify having gone on to finish third in the group.

Spartak's overall record against English clubs is nine wins and six defeats from 17 meetings, whereas at home they have won five and lost just two of their eight games.

SPARTAK MOSCOW STARTING XI: Rebrov; Eschenko, Kutepov, Tasci, Bocchetti, Dzhikila; Samedov, Fernando, Pasalic, Popov; Adriano

LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Matip, Moreno; Henderson, Can, Coutinho; Salah, Mane, Firmino

Liverpool work hard to get back, though, and as soon as they win possession they are quickly on the front foot themselves. Coutinho swings a ball towards the back post - much like his one that created the goal for Salah at the weekend - but this time it is just too far in front of Firmino.

Ryan Babel has given Besiktas the lead against RB Leipzig, while Napoli are also ahead against Feyenoord through Lorenzo Insigne - the latter match in Manchester City's group.

The first sees Salah get a shot away from a tight angle which the keeper does well to stop, but it is the second which is the more impressive. Mane's cross into the box finds Firmino, who plants a firm header towards goal. Rebrov beats it away with a firm hand, though, and Firmino is left thinking he probably should have done better.

Liverpool are punished for conceding the free kick in a dangerous position by Fernando, who fires a beauty of a strike past Karius. It wasn't right in the corner from the Brazilian, but it had enough pace on it to fly past Karius.

The Brazilian plays a one-two with the winger on his way into the box, leaving him with only Rebrov to beat. The angle is slightly against Coutinho, but he slams an emphatic finish high into the net to level things up.

Elsewhere, the goal machine Harry Kane has broken the deadlock for Spurs against APOEL, while Porto have taken the lead against Monaco.

It has been a familiar story for the Reds so far, with some blistering attacking play being undermined by some dodgy defending, but there are still 45 minutes remaining in this one and, on the basis of that first half, you'd have to make Liverpool favourites to go on and win this match.

The set piece itself was avoidable, with Can losing possession in the build-up, but Karius will also be disappointed at not getting to the shot. There was plenty of pace on it from Fernando, but the ball was not in the corner and the Liverpool keeper was slow to get his feet moving. A top goalkeeper would have saved it.

The Brazilian played a one-two with Mane to break into the box behind the Spartak defence, and his finish was unerring as he slammed the ball into the roof of the net from close range.

An away win here would do wonders for Liverpool's hopes of qualifying from the group, but there is still work for them to do tonight.

Also in that group, Napoli are ahead against Feyenoord while elsewhere Real Madrid have doubled their advantage over Dortmund through Cristiano Ronaldo - who is making his 400th appearance for the club tonight.

Elsewhere, there is another goal for Ronaldo as Real Madrid now lead Dortmund 3-1, while Porto are now two up against Monaco.

The hosts actually broke the deadlock through Fernando, but they were on the back foot for the vast majority of the match and although Coutinho quickly levelled things up for Liverpool, they could not find that elusive second goal.

Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for tonight's match as Liverpool once again drop valuable Champions League points in a 1-1 draw with Spartak Moscow. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. We have plenty more live European action for you tomorrow night too, so be sure to tune in for that!

From me, though, it is goodbye for now!