Champions League | Liverpool share points with 2-2 draw at Ludogorets in Group B

Champions League | Liverpool share points with 2-2 draw at Ludogorets in Group B

Liverpool drew 2-2 after Ludogorets maintain their Champions League dream with only one game left in Group B.

Before the game Wednesday night, Brendan Rodgers says "our season starts now" - even if it is unlikely to expect that to include a goal of Dani Abalo to the hosts after three minutes in Sofia.

However, Rickie Lambert hit back with his first goal five minutes later before Jordan Henderson Champions League gave Liverpool the lead in the 37th minute, after the good work of a revitalized Raheem Sterling.

Visitors seemed to head the three points but to the high jumps Georgi Terziev to level next to the House two minutes from time. Fortunately for Liverpool, and more than 2,000 fans travelling, Basel failed to score against Real Madrid and a victory against the Swiss side at Anfield on 6 day will see through.

It was an open game, and surprisingly, it is the side of the House which had most of the early chances, with Virgil Misidjan in particular causing problems for Liverpool on the left side.

Ludogorets paid no attention to European pedigree of their competitor and Captain Steven Gerrard was placed at the tip of the diamond as Rodgers has sent his team looking for a victory.

However, they were quickly behind as Marcelinho kick from outside the area was fumbled by Simon Mignolet, who had not had the chance to train on the ground as Rodgers held a session at Melwood before the team flew to the Bulgaria, and Abalo followed by mark.

Already fragile Mignolet confidence became even more frayed and he flapped later at a cross, creating a moment of panic in a packed penalty box and only managed to half-stop bouncing free kick from Fabio Espinho, while that his nerves will not have been helped by Kolo Toure dragging a cross inches before his left post.

But five minutes of the opener, Liverpool were level when Lambert somehow managed to meet his own flick-on of the Henderson pump forward and nod on the pole in.

Gerrard has been finding more space in the Ludogorets half what he had done for most of the season in its own, but it was the pace of Sterling and develop cross left foot after having been released by Lambert when the hosts lost possession on to Midway who created the second for Henderson to convert at the far post in the 37th minute.

Being the second Bulgarian team in history to go to the Champions League, his team had nothing to lose and they played some good football before their supporters. It is no exaggeration to say that they could have beaten Premier League team as they had the best of luck at the start.

Sterling should have put the match beyond doubt 10 minutes from time when wagered by Gerrard and Terziev conversion to a corner of the 88th minute took some of the shine the result.

The Reds have not yet won a match this month and many will doubt if they can get a result when Basel visit Anfield in December on day 6.

They must win against the Swiss if they want to progress to the knock-out stages of the competition of Europe. If they don't, they will face in the Europa League - that many will be considered failure.

VERDICT OF GARY NEVILLE

He finished the night in disappointment for them, but I think it is a step forward for Liverpool. You are not going to be as bad as they were Sunday, as low as they were, to immediately think that they are going to be fantastic.

It's small, and it's a small step tonight. They are still in the Champions League, they got Stoke, Sunderland and Leicester until they play the next game against Basel and then against Manchester United.

They have the opportunity to raise the head, thinking that they come far there still in Champions League. If they were out tonight people would have made the tail upwards, without doubt, including ourselves, to be very critical if Liverpool had lost. The pressure was building on the manager, relying on players, so I think that it is a small step forward tonight and a good result for them.

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