After over 1,000 days out of Champions League action, the biggest football competition returned to Anfield. The five time winners couldn't have asked for an easier start as they faced as they faced Ludogorets Razgrad, the Bulgarian champions who reached the group stage for the first time ever after a thrilling win in their qualifying round against Steaua Bucharest.
With only one player from the 2005 winning squad, captain Steven Gerrard, Liverpool started strongly, with Ludogorets struggling to keep pace with the Premier League Runners Up. After fighting off the initial surge, the Bulgarian side became comfortable, looking dangerous on the counter attack as Liverpool struggled in defence. Centre back Dejan Lovren had before the game said that poor English had been the reason for a ack of communication between him and Mamadou Sakho. At left back however, Alberto Moreno exploited the space left to him by Ludogorets but was unable to find a red jersey with any of his first half crosses. Brazilian midfielder Marcelinho put in a very good shift and frequently found space in behind Gerrard and Henderson.
Liverpool seemed to have clinched the decisive goal in the 82nd minute as Mario Balotelli finally got on the end of a Moreno cross, he received the ball well before beating his man and slotted a cool finish into the side netting with the outside of his right boot. Nine minutes later, Ludogorets thought they had clinched a fairy-tale draw. Raheem Sterling was disposed as he attacked down the left hand side, the ball was quickly played forward to Marcelinho who curled a superb through ball into the path of substitute Dani Abalo who rounded Mignolet and finished into the empty net.
Liverpool seemed to have been robbed of their 3 points, but a suspect backpass in the third minute of stoppage time forced debutant keeper Milan Borjan to bring down Javier Manquillo in the box giving The Reds a last gasp penalty. Local hero Gerrard calmly stepped up and powered his shot into the bottom right corner, sending the keeper the wrong way. Liverpool face Swiss side Basel next before a very difficult match up against Real Madrid, who beat Basel 5-1 in their opening game.
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