Liverpool 2 Ludogorets 1 - Stevie saves the day again!

By dedlfc

How we have missed that fantastic music before a Champions League game was the statement made by Gerrard prior to the game and it was a sentiment echoed by the team and fans alike.

After the disappointing league display versus Villa it was finally a return to the Champions League big stage after a lengthy 5 year absence for one of Europe's footballing aristocrats.  

The game saw our current best player Raheem Sterling return to the line up in place of the suspended Lazar Marković.  Mario Balotelli was flanked by Adam Lallana on the right and Sterling on the left with Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson in advanced midfield positions ahead of Steven Gerrard.

Deserved return to the elite stage for Liverpool

The KOP's return to where we belong in the Champions League

The opening quarter of the hour was relatively comfortable for us, without us really impressing greatly. 

We produced our best passage of play within the last 15 minutes down the left hand side with Moreno's good ball a little high and Ludogorets responded with some neat interplay of their own down their right side to warn us that this team could play a little.

Ludogorets showed throughout the game that they possess organisation, composure, and pockets of combination play. Anfield's visitors were not amateurs at all.

We were on the front foot more so than our opponents in the first half, but the Bulgarian visitors informed all that this group may be a little tougher for us than first thought and so they were being true to their word.

Our fullbacks and the newly appointed vice captain were probably the pick of the bunch in the first half along with a more assured showing from Mamadou Sakho.

The attacking cohesion was again lacking from Liverpool and the number ten in red Coutinho again was lacking in his passing accuracy and decision making.

As the second half progressed, it appeared that there would eventually be a goal as there was more space for players to find greater time to make better decisions as well as exploit for counter attacking purposes. 

The main opportunity early on in the second half fell to Manquillo who sensed a chance to dart into the opposition territory from his defensive right hand position.  Latching onto an incisive chip into space by Henderson the Spaniard disappointingly volleyed over the crossbar at the vital moment when it looked more likely that he would get a shot on target.

While we continued to look more capable of scoring a goal with more players entering the opposition area, Ludogorets also looked dangerously and capable on the counter attack.

The visitors, buoyed with confidence poured forward through the impressive Marcelinho who fed the ball through to Bezjak who rattled the upright.

The Kop sensed more problems with Liverpool struggling to create chances and the uncertainty of the defence rattling the fans.

The vital breakthrough came through our new £16m striker Mario Ballotelli with a neatly executed chance but a massive amount of credit should fall to Moreno.  He swung the balance in our favor arriving in the nick of time to block a shot in front of Liverpool's goal and later in the same passage of play provided the telling cross that lead to the opener.

Our new dynamic left back whipped in an excellent cross and after a bit of a scramble the ball dropped to Balotelli who made no mistake stabbing home nonchalantly to give us a lead we scarcely deserved on the second half performance.

But it matters not. 1-0.

Ballotelli celebrates his first goal for us with a cool finish

It looked like this would be enough to get three points on the board in our first Champions League game in five years.

Then disaster occurred, when it looked like we had ridden out the storm to claim a clean sheet and get the points secured when a lack of communication (again!) at the back inexplicably caused by a simple through ball played behind Sakho was not intercepted by the covering Lovren.  

As at Manchester City, Mignolet wandered away from his goal like he had forgotten he was supposed to be the keeper and not an outfield player playing as sweeper to leave a gaping hole for Abalo to tap home.  Migs had again let the side down in a big game.

It now genuinely looked as though our return to the Champions League was going to end in tears but this is the Liverpool in Europe roller coaster and as befitting one of our classic late winners we managed to secure a very late penalty in injury time after our right back Manquillo was fouled inside the box.

Manquillo goes down for the winning penalty

Concluding a breathless period of football which saw our captain Stevie G step up with nerves of steel and slide home his 40th European goal to secure the vital win and get our European campaign off to a winning start.

Gerrard slots home the winning penalty

Liverpool: Mignolet, Manquillo, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho; Sterling, Balotelli, Lallana.

Man of the match: Henderson - Mr consistency again produced a man of the match performance with his industrious running and intelligent passing and showed why he has deservedly been made vice captain.

We have won this game but again continue to be unconvincing as a team who are supposed to be able to be flexible in our formations moving from 4-3-3 or the diamond formation.

Our keeper's lack of concentration again nearly costs us a game he needs to start showing more improvement or we will struggle to get far in any competition.

Vital first win which is the minimum expected by us.

Comments after match:-

Steven Gerrard: "It's always nice to win the game, especially when you think you're going to drop two points. Looking at the game as whole we did OK, but nothing better than OK. We have a lot to learn. To judge that performance it's must do better."

Brendan Rodgers: "It was a great night for everyone at the club. To come back in after five years and get the result is great. Credit to the players. To show that character and determination and get a result was magnificent."

Of Balotelli he says: "It was a wonderful finish. We've said to him to be in the box more. He's got such good technique that sometimes he spends too much time outside the box but he's got such great strength when he's in there and it was a world class finish."

Ballo & Stevie G matchwinners appreciation society