Didn't know about Allen or Skrtel

Not the end of the world, Lovren-Sakho at the back and Lallana into the mids or even Lucas I guess. Shame if Allen AND Can are out though.

-PB

Hendo confirmed as our vice-captain. Good choice, he's a great example of how we want to play and will be a good captain once Gerrard leaves.

yes very good choice - he's going to be one of our key players for the rest of his career.

Anyone got any team stats for the coming of the Ludogorets ?
Welcome back to CL games Anfield woohooooooooo

Here's some info below :

The Reds have faced Bulgarian opposition eight times in total, winning six times in the process, but they did lose 1-0 to CSKA Sofia at Anfield in 2005. Liverpool also enter the match off the back of a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa in the Premier League.

Ludogorets, meanwhile, are in the group stages of the Champions League for the first time. They beat Steaua Bucuresti on penalties in the final qualifying round to make this stage, but they did reach the last 16 of the Europa League last season in their debut appearance.

The visitors have won only seven of their 15 matches in all competitions this season, but they sit third in the Bulgarian league having taken 15 points from their first eight games.

Liverpool will be without summer signings Emre Can and Lazar Markovic through suspension, while Daniel Sturridge remains on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Raheem Sterling is expected to return to the XI, but the Premier League side have problems in defence, with Glen Johnson, Jon Flanagan and Martin Skrtel all struggling.

The visitors, meanwhile, will be without their first-choice goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov through suspension. As a result, Georgi Argilashki is expected to come into the XI.

Head coach Georgi Dermendzhiev has no fresh injury concerns, however, and is expected to name a front three of Roman Bezjak, Virgil Misidjan and Marcelinho. The former scored 20 times for the Bulgarian side last season and is seen as their biggest threat.

Recent form

Liverpool: WWLWL

Ludogorets: LDWDW

Possible starting lineups

Liverpool: Mignolet; Manquillo, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Gerrard, Henderson; Sterling, Coutinho, Lallana; Balotelli

Ludogorets: Argilashki; Moti, Aleksandrov, Minev, Junior; Abalo, Dyakov, Espinho; Marcelinho, Bezjak, Misidjan

Sports Mole says: 3-0

Ludogorets have the greatest CL qualifying story in history and thats about all i know about them. Apparently Aleksandrov was the most fouled player in qualifying so he may be a quite skilful player if he's getting fouled all the time.

Fucking pumped though, getting to sleep is going to be tough.

Must win, gonna go 3-1

Ludogorets have been great. Aleksandrov and Dyakov have been their best going forward and surprised me with the amount of skilful passes they've done. They've done some last second tackles to block shots that would've been on target so kudos' on making the game interesting. They haven't just sat back like everyone expected.

We started well and ended well but reverted to long ball tactics in the middle of the half. It works better with Suarez and Sturridge, not so much with Raheem and Balotelli who's still getting used to our system. I appreciate his effort, i can see he's trying but it hasn't clicked with him 100% yet.

Still think we can get the win in the second half. Cmon boys!

HE'S BIG AND HE'S FUCKING HARD

[-x

Thank god for good fullbacks.

Underwhelming, but a win. Glad for Mario.

Yes agree it was a underwhelming but a big win regardless being our 1st CL in 5yrs ! =d>
We are having trouble getting onto that last pass to put it away but it will come, much room for improvement.
Rapt for Mario getting off the mark well taken goal and typically perfect taken pen by SG !

Ludogorets Razgrad have sent a special message of thanks to Liverpool fans for the recognition they paid to the Bulgarian champions at Anfield on Tuesday night.

The Reds required a stoppage-time penalty from captain Steven Gerrard to ultimately overcome the visitors in their opening fixture of Champions League Group B - their first game in the competition since 2009.

Dani Abalo had stunned Brendan Rodgers' side by grabbing an equaliser to seemingly claim a point for Ludogorets in the closing seconds of the match, after Mario Balotelli had broken the deadlock with his first goal for the club.

Appreciative of the tenacious display they had witnessed by the travelling outfit, Kopites stayed behind after the final whistle to applaud both the players and supporters of the Bulgarians for their efforts throughout the encounter in L4.

A Liverpool spokesperson said: "Ludogorets officials have been in touch with Liverpool today to once again emphasise how impressed they were by the appreciation and respect they were shown by our fans last night.

"They were very humbled by the applause afforded to them by Liverpool supporters at the end of the game and were keen to make it known how grateful they were."


Nice. :)

Friggin :(

Brendan Rodgers has today confirmed that Liverpool defender Jon Flanagan faces 'a few months' on the sidelines with injury, as he provided the latest on squad fitness ahead of a trip to West Ham United.

The 21-year-old full-back has missed the entire outset of the Reds' campaign and will remain unavailable for selection for the near future following a recent operation.

"Young Jon Flanagan, unfortunately, has just had an operation that will probably have him out for a few months - which is disappointing," the manager told Liverpoolfc.com at Melwood.

There was positive news, however, regarding two more members of Rodgers' defensive contingent, and developments on a potential timeframe for striker Daniel Sturridge's return.

The Northern Irishman added: "Martin Skrtel is back training with the team, which is great news for us. Glen Johnson should be back training over the course of the weekend.

"Daniel Sturridge should hopefully be back training at some point next week. Joe Allen is still out and he'll be out for a few weeks yet."

Shame, but we have Alberto now and Enrique is good cover if needed.

Allen being out is the biggest disappointment for me.

Not just because of his individual abilities, he just allows us to play the diamond formation so well. Obviously requires Sturridge as well, but hopefully Danny will be back in time for Derby next Sat, although probably only off the bench. Diamond formation suits us much better.

Skrtel should hopefully come back in to the XI for the derby, the WHU game may be too soon for him which is a shame.

Glen can stay out for as long as he likes :lol:

Another shithouse performance, go us.

Our performances last year relied on us having a strong start, getting the first goal and then the game opens up since the other side has to attack. Starting Gerrard and Lucas in our midfield is just not an intent to start strong. It makes it even harder when we go down early since like we learnt last year against chelsea, we can't really break down defences that have 8 or 9 men behind the ball.

I think we will still do well against the good sides, but we need to do well while the weaker sides still think they have something to play for.

Sturridge can't come back soon enough

I was very :? From this morns result but I was lifted by a Leicester :lol:

\:d/

I feel like the team dynamic is gone. Back line changes and a raft of new striking options PLUS sturridge out and we dont have harmony.

Was pretty impressed with Rodgers formation change after 20 odd mins.

AWW YEAH

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-29314614

59k Anfield :)

About bloody time - been a long time coming.

lol 14-13.

Liverpool not going to get the job done this season so it seems.

-PB

This season has started poorly but could have been so much worse. Scraped results against Ludo and Boro.

Talk about doing it the hard way ! goal keepers earnt their wage this game :lol:

Struggled to beat Boro even in penalties.

Gonna be a long season. :(

Real Madrid have made Sterling their no1 target next summer.... You could say they have a decent record at getting the players they want, which makes me scared.

I would literally cry if he left.

I wouldn't be trusting anything John Cross says if I were you.

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I'm not a fan of what I've seen lately. Nervous as fuck. Can't wait for Allen and Sturridge to come back from injury.

Agree being nervous AJohn......
BIG game tonight for us on the telly 8-[
Anyone seen a line up yet ?

Well we did enough to take the points at Anfield - Mario had a sitter should have put away but wasn't to be :(
What a equiliser ! grrrrrrrrr.
Its a tuff period at the moment - 2 from 6 sucks.
Basel coming up - word is Sturridge may may make an appearance, BR had mentioned he wasn't ready to be on the bench last game but could be for this [-o<
Basel top of their table after 10games 23 for 14against
Be nice to get a draw or even a win away :d

We need Sturridge back incl Allen Can and Flanno - Johnson can stay away.



Edited by M.L.: 30/9/2014 02:08:33 PM