Liverpool 2-1 Ludogorets: Gerrard rescues Reds to secure winning start to Champions League return
A stoppage-time penalty from Steven Gerrard ensured the Reds kicked off their return to the Champions League with a winning start against plucky European minnows Ludogorets.
It was far from plain sailing for the hosts at Anfield, as the Bulgarian champions proved worthy opponents in their first ever Champions League appearance.
After a tight 80 minutes of football Mario Balotelli finally broke the deadlock, and opened his Liverpool account, with a neat half-volley to put the Reds in front.
But the spirited visitors soon netted a shock equaliser when substitute Dani Abalo found the net in stoppage-time after a swift counter-attack.
And just when it seemed Brendan Rodgers’ side had seen a dream start to their European campaign snatched away, Liverpool were awarded a penalty.
It was goalkeeper Milan Borjan who took out Javier Manquillo in the box and captain Gerrard, as he has done on so many occasions, kept his cool under pressure to sweep home from the spot and secure a fortunate three points for the five-time winners.
A turgid opening half saw both teams create few scoring opportunities.
In similar scenes to Saturday’s poor 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa, Liverpool saw the majority of the possession but had little end product, with Balotelli and Adam Lallana - playing more as a second striker than wide man - going closest for the hosts with a series of half-chances.
Little is known of Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets, but they certainly impressed with an industrious performance on their debut at Europe’s top table.
They restricted their hosts throughout the game, with the Reds growing increasingly frustrated as half-time approached.
But Rodgers’ men did improve in that final spell before the break, with Lallana again going close again with perhaps Liverpool’s best chance - Jordan Henderson provided a good pass into the box but the former Southampton captain just couldn’t get the ball from out of his feet, with his scrappy effort easily blocked away.
Liverpool continued their decent form after the restart as they produced two quick attacks leading to further half-chances for Philippe Coutinho and Henderson, while Lallana was felled in the box by a strong, but fair, shoulder barge after a well weighted headed knock down from Balotelli.
Full-back Manquillo then wasted a great opportunity to put Liverpool in front, tapping his close-range effort over the bar after being put clean through by a brilliant Henderson pass.
But despite the home side’s increasing confidence, the gutsy visitors still proved a threat, with Mignolet forced into action moments later as he parried away a thumping 30-yard effort from Ludogorets defender Junior Caicara.
Striker Roman Bezjak then spurned another great chance for the travelling side, taking advantage of a mistake from Dejan Lovren and running clean through on goal, only to slice his one-on-one shot over the bar.
With 20 minutes remaining Rodgers began to make changes, with Coutinho, after a poor performance in which he often gave away possession when looking for crafty passes that just weren’t there, replaced by Fabio Borini and Lucas coming on for Lallana.
And while Borini made an immediate impact by going close with a powerful header, Liverpool almost went behind and were only saved by the woodwork as Bezjak hit the post with a low strike.
The home side were shaken but were soon celebrating when Balotelli got the breakthough with his first Reds goal.
The Italy international failed to really impress in two Premier League games for the Merseyside outfit since his £16million summer switch, and wasn’t too much better against the Bulgarian champions.
But all it took was one moment of brilliance from the striker, as he shrugged off challenges from two defenders to find the net with a neat half-volley to give Liverpool the lead.
They were instantly pegged back though, and the Reds’ poor back-four were undone by a clever through pass from Hamza Younes which frontman Abalo, who only came on the pitch minutes before, ran onto and finished well past Mignolet to send the minnows wild in added-time.
The previously ecstatic Anfield crowd were silenced by what was a deserved goal for Ludogorets, but they were up on their feet again soon enough when Borjan, who was signed by the side just days ago amid a goalkeeping crisis, took out Manquillo in the area.
The stage was set for Gerrard, the sole remaining member of Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League-winning squad, to rescue the Reds once again, and the skipper made no mistake as Liverpool were left to celebrate their nervy victory.