Champions League
LudogoretsLudogorets Razgrad2LiverpoolLiverpool2

Ludogorets Razgrad 2-2 Liverpool

By Jonathan JurejkoBBC Sport
Ludogorets v Liverpool
Jordan Henderson converted his first Champions League goal to put Liverpool ahead
  • Liverpool denied first win in five matches
  • Reds will still reach the last 16 if they beat Basel
  • Ludogorets eliminated despite earning a point

Liverpool conceded a late equaliser at Bulgarian champions Ludogorets - but are still just a win away from reaching the Champions League last 16.

The hosts led when Dani Abalo pounced on Reds keeper Simon Mignolet's error, but Rickie Lambert headed in his first Champions League goal to equalise.

Jordan Henderson steered Liverpool ahead at the far post, before Georgi Terziev headed in the equaliser.

Liverpool will still qualify if they beat Basel at Anfield next month.

Despite an unconvincing performance in Bulgaria, Brendan Rodgers's side remain in control of their European destiny after Basel were beaten 1-0 at reigning champions Real Madrid.

Basel's defeat means the Reds are two points behind the Swiss side and will join the Spanish giants in the knockout stage with a win in their final group match.

Liverpool had lost their previous four matches in all competitions and before kick-off Rodgers urged his players to kick-start their faltering season with a vital win.

But their performance in near-freezing conditions in Sofia will have done little to encourage the Anfield side that an upturn in their fortunes is on the way.

Teams already through to the last 16
Real MadridBarcelona
Borussia DortmundChelsea
Bayern MunichPorto
Paris St-GermainShakhtar Donetsk
ArsenalAtletico Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen

The visitors appeared to lack the confidence to cut through the ponderous Ludogorets backline and were once again uncertain in defence when the home side poured forward.

Goalkeeper Mignolet has faced mounting criticism during Liverpool's recent slump, with Reds legend Bruce Grobbelaar claiming his performances are one of the main reasons Rodgers's side are struggling.

And the Belgium international opened himself up to more of the same when he gifted a third-minute opener to the home side.

Home midfielder Marcelinho's low 20-yard shot should have been easily gathered, but the Reds keeper spilled it into the path of striker Dani who bundled in.

But Lambert, who netted his first Reds goal in Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace, levelled when he pounced on some flat-footed defending to steer into the bottom corner.

England forward Raheem Sterling had been lacking the sharpness of his early-season form in recent weeks, but looked back to his best as he orchestrated Liverpool's brightest attacking play and set up Henderson's goal with an incisive cross.

However, the youngster also missed a golden chance to put the game beyond the home side with 10 minutes left, steering straight at Ludogorets keeper Vladislav Stoyanov when clean through.

Liverpool's current lack of self-belief was clear to see in the closing stages, the visitors retreating nervously as the home side pressed.

But although Terziev's far-post header earned Ludogorets a deserved point, it does not alter Liverpool's task against Basel on 9 December.

Ludogorets v Liverpool
Rickie Lambert is the first English forward to score for Liverpool in the tournament since Peter Crouch on 28 November 2007
Ludogorets v Liverpool
Liverpool have now kept only one clean sheet in their last 10 Champions League matches

Line-ups

Ludogorets

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 21Stoyanov
  • 80Paula Junior
  • 55Terziev
  • 27Moti
  • 25Minev
  • 18Dyakov
  • 8Gomes FonsecaSubstituted forYounesat 81'minutes
  • 7AleksandrovSubstituted forCristaldo Fariasat 72'minutes
  • 84Nascimento da Costa
  • 93Misidjan
  • 17Abalo PaulosSubstituted forAzevedo Juniorat 69'minutes

Substitutes

  • 5Barthe
  • 11Azevedo Junior
  • 12Andrianantenaina
  • 15Aleksandrov
  • 26Borjan
  • 88Cristaldo Farias
  • 99Younes

Liverpool

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 22Mignolet
  • 19Manquillo
  • 37Skrtel
  • 4K Touré
  • 2Johnson
  • 21Leiva
  • 24Allen
  • 14Henderson
  • 8Gerrard
  • 31SterlingSubstituted forMorenoat 82'minutes
  • 9Lambert

Substitutes

  • 1Jones
  • 6Lovren
  • 10Coutinho
  • 18Moreno
  • 20Lallana
  • 23Can
  • 29Borini
Referee:
Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz
Attendance:
37,143

Match Stats

Home TeamLudogoretsAway TeamLiverpool
Possession
Home55%
Away45%
Shots
Home18
Away8
Shots on Target
Home4
Away4
Corners
Home11
Away2
Fouls
Home8
Away21

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Ludogorets Razgrad 2, Liverpool 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Ludogorets Razgrad 2, Liverpool 2.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Svetoslav Dyakov (Ludogorets Razgrad).

  4. Post update

    Alberto Moreno (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  5. Goal!

    Goal! Ludogorets Razgrad 2, Liverpool 2. Georgi Terziev (Ludogorets Razgrad) header from very close range to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Svetoslav Dyakov with a headed pass following a corner.

  6. Post update

    Corner, Ludogorets Razgrad. Conceded by Joe Allen.

  7. Post update

    Corner, Ludogorets Razgrad. Conceded by Javier Manquillo.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Wanderson (Ludogorets Razgrad).

  9. Post update

    Glen Johnson (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Liverpool. Alberto Moreno replaces Raheem Sterling.

  11. Post update

    Attempt missed. Juninho Quixadá (Ludogorets Razgrad) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Wanderson.

  12. Post update

    Attempt saved. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Steven Gerrard with a through ball.

  13. Substitution

    Substitution, Ludogorets Razgrad. Hamza Younes replaces Fábio Espinho.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Fábio Espinho (Ludogorets Razgrad).

  15. Post update

    Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Henderson with a cross.

  17. Post update

    Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Junior Caiçara.

  18. Post update

    Offside, Ludogorets Razgrad. Yordan Minev tries a through ball, but Virgil Misidjan is caught offside.

  19. Post update

    Attempt missed. Juninho Quixadá (Ludogorets Razgrad) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Svetoslav Dyakov.

  20. Post update

    Corner, Ludogorets Razgrad. Conceded by Lucas Leiva.

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Atl Madrid54011431112
2Juventus53027439
3Olympiakos5203611-56
4Malmö FF5104211-93

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Real Madrid55001221015
2FC Basel520367-16
3Liverpool511348-44
4Ludogorets5113510-54

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1B Leverkusen53027439
2Monaco52212118
3Zenit St Petersburg52124407
4Benfica511326-44

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1B Dortmund54011331012
2Arsenal5311117410
3Anderlecht512279-25
4Galatasaray5014315-121

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Bayern Munich5401134912
2Roma5122812-45
3CSKA Moscow5122610-45
4Man City512278-15

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1PSG541094513
2Barcelona5401124812
3Ajax5023410-62
4Apoel Nicosia501418-71

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Chelsea53201421211
2Sporting521211927
3Schalke5122814-65
4NK Maribor5032412-83

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1FC Porto54101531213
2Shakhtar Donetsk5221143118
3Ath Bilbao511336-34
4BATE Borisov5104222-203
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