Liverpool 1 Besiktas 0: Balotelli penalty edges Liverpool ahead

Liverpool lined-up for the first time in Europe the season with premier striker Daniel Sturridge at the head of affairs with supporting attacking acts Adam Lallana, Coutinho and Jordon Ibe on the back of a brand new five year contract.  Steven Gerrard and Lucas were still out injured, but welcomed back from Raheem Sterling to start on the bench.

Liverpool started quickly with Jordon Ibe sizzling down the right leaving two opponents trailing in his wake before finding Sturridge running onto his through ball.  The mercurial frontman ghosted by the left-back down the bye-line before seeing his shot well saved by Besiktas keeper Cenk Gonen from a very acute angle.

Besiktas matched Liverpool’s pressing with their own physical game blended with impressive use and possession and very much held their own in the first half hour without much threat in the final third apart from a flashing header just past the near post by Vel Kavlak.

Then a deep intake of breath from the Kop as a blast from the past Demba Ba streaked away toward the end he broke so many hearts, but this time Simon Mignolet pulled off a stunning save low down to his left at full stretch.  Daniel Sturridge not seeing much service curled a free-kick right of central just over the bar.

Alberto Moreno impressing in his role at wing-back fastened on to a loose clearance to fizz in a shot from fully 40 yards which Gonen tipped over.  Henderson with time petering out curled a free-kick just past the post with the goalkeeper left rooted in the centre of the goal.

Liverpool lacked the final ball at times in the first-half and failed to create a real clear cut chance although possessing in Ibe and Lallana the best performers in the first period.

Ibe started the second period as finished the first, on fire.  Proving he can go both ways created in decision and consternation especially with the covering Sahan as he fashion out room for Henderson to cross for Moreno’s mistimed volley.  Henderson then powered down the right, his cross on the run causing confusion in the Besitas box between keeper Gonen and Franco with the ball bouncing out only for Adam Lallana to shoot over with the goal at his mercy.

Besiktas showed in patches that the away leg will not be a formality.  While they might be cynical, they are technically very impressive and adept in possession and kept Liverpool’s Standard Chartered Player of the Month Coutinho under wraps forcing his substitution with Allen to be replaced by Ballotelli and Lovren respectively allowing Can to move into midfield.

Balotelli in his first exchanges continued where he left off holding the ball up with purpose and making telling passes to strike partner and Ibe.  He also made a decisive intervention from corner nipping in before the hovering Ba.

Jordon Ibe the Liverpool protagonist on the night charged into the area with 6 minutes to go only to be upended by Motta for a penalty.   Balotelli, full of experience and pedigree from the penalty spot stepped up and dispatched with little fuss although Sturridge and Henderson seemed pretty miffed with Mario pulling rank to give Liverpool the winner.

Man of the Match:  Jordon Ibe – the youngster showed poise and control beyond his years and is adapting quickly to the demands placed on him.  He’s time at Derby has given him an awareness which allied to his strength and skills make him a threat from deep lying areas as well as in the final third.

Mario Balotelli turned the game with his cameo toward the end giving Liverpool more of a threat in the final third and it was good to see him working back and looking razor sharp.  Brendan Rodgers comments that the penny has dropped where the player is concerned seem well founded.

Teams:

Liverpool starting formation 3-4-3

22 Simon Mignolet, 23 Emre Can, 37 Martin Skrtel, 17 Mamadou Sakho, 33 Jordon Ibe, 14 Jordan Henderson, 24 Joe Allen (Lovren – 62 mins), 18 Alberto Moreno, 20 Adam Lalalla (Raheem Sterling – 76 mins), 15 Daniel Sturridge, 10 Philippe Coutinho (Balotelli – 62 mins)

Subs: 52 Danny Ward, 6 Dejan Lovren, 9 Rickie Lambert, 19 Javi Manquillo, 31 Raheem Sterling, 29 Fabio Borini, 45 Mario Balotelli

Besiktas 4-4-2

1 Cenk Gonen, 2 Serdar Kurtulus, 19 Pedro Franco, 22 Ersan Gulum, 31 Motta Ramon, 13 Atiba Hutchinson, 8 Veli Kavlak, 7 Gokhan Tore, 5 Jose Sosa (Oguzhan Ozyakup – 59 mins), 10 Olcay Sahan (Kerim Frei – 70 mins), 9 Demba Ba

Subs: 41 Enes Fidayeo, 11 Mustafa Pekternek, 15 Oguzhan Ozyakup, 18 Tolgay Arslan, 20 Necup Uysal, 21 Kerim Frei, 44 Daniel Opare

Referee: Szymon Marciniak