Liverpool's Champions League hopes are still alive despite conceding a late equaliser to draw 2-2 with Ludogorets Razgrad in Sofia this evening.
Defensive errors were to blame for the opening two goals as Dani Abalo put the hosts ahead inside three minutes before Rickie Lambert nodded Liverpool level shortly after.
Jordan Henderson completed the first-half turnaround for the visitors, but they were denied all three points in the 88th minute as Georgi Terziev rescued a draw for his side.
Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at a decisive night of Champions League action.
Match statistics
LUDOGORETS
Shots: 18
On target: 4
Possession: 55%
Corners: 11
Fouls: 8
LIVERPOOL
Shots: 8
On target: 4
Possession: 45%
Corners: 2
Fouls: 21
Was the result fair?
Liverpool will be gutted to have conceded an equaliser so late in the game, but a draw is the fairest result tonight. It was an even encounter for long periods and, while both sides enjoyed spells in the ascendency, neither team ever really grabbed the game by the scruff of its neck.
The statistics show that Ludogorets enjoyed more possession and shots than the visitors, but in terms of chances there was very little to pick between the two sides. Indeed, apart from the goals, there was only really one clear-cut opportunity in the match, which Raheem Sterling squandered with the score at 2-1.
The opening 10 minutes were certainly eventful, albeit for the wrong reasons as defensive errors gifted both sides goals, but aside from that it wasn't the most thrilling encounter. The pitch didn't help it as a spectacle, while there was a noticeable lack of quality at times with Liverpool low on confidence and Ludogorets glad to just be playing in the competition.
Ludogorets's performance
The hosts made a perfect start to this match by opening the scoring inside three minutes, but they ended up being architects of their own downfall. Liverpool's equaliser was a defensive horror show as far as Ludogorets were concerned, while they also gifted the ball away in the build-up to the second goal.
Even so, they matched their more illustrious opponents for long periods tonight and showed great character to keep on fighting until the end - as they have done in many of their European matches this season. They were rewarded for that with a deserved equaliser, which gives them arguably the best result in the club's history.
Ultimately, the result was not enough to keep them in the competition, but they have applied themselves well and done themselves justice in their Champions League campaign this season. They were expected to be the whipping boys of Group B but that has not proven to be the case, and four points from this group is nothing to be ashamed of for such a small side.
Liverpool's performance
The performance was always going to be of secondary importance this evening. Of course, Liverpool fans want to see a return to the barnstorming ways of last season but, having lost four in a row going into this match, they simply needed to get out of that rut. They avoided a fifth straight defeat tonight, but the late equaliser may make it feel like a loss.
The visitors responded well to going behind so early on as it would have been easy for heads to drop given their recent form. They were given a helping hand by defensive errors, but Brendan Rodgers won't mind that one bit. Even so, as soon as Sterling missed the chance to make it 3-1 late on it felt as if Ludogorets would equalise. Liverpool just can't hold on to a lead at the moment and once again the defence looked shaky all evening.
Interestingly, the Reds didn't go for a winner after the late equaliser, which suggests that Rodgers is content with a point that keeps them in the competition with their fate in their own hands. They must now beat Basel at Anfield on December 9 if they are to progress, but that is by no means a certainty the way Liverpool are playing right now.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Raheem Sterling: It was slim pickings for this award tonight, with no-one standing head and shoulders above the rest. Sterling was still not at his best, but he showed signs of his early-season form with a couple of bright runs down the flanks. He provided the assist for Henderson's goal with a lovely cross into the middle, but did also squander a great chance to put the game to bed late on.
Biggest gaffe
This has to be a shared award tonight, with both mistakes coming in the opening 10 minutes. First Simon Mignolet spilt a Fabio Espinho effort from range right into the path of Abalo, who fired home the rebound for the opening goal of the match. The ball did zip up at Mignolet a little, but he still should have done a lot better with it.
Moments later, though, that mistake was cancelled out through a piece of miscommunication between Cosmin Moti and Vladislav Stoyanov. The defender left a high ball for the keeper, who wasn't coming for it, allowing Lambert to steal in and nod home the equaliser. Dreadful pieces of defending from both sides.
Referee performance
Antonio Mateu could perhaps have let a little more go at times, awarding a few soft free kicks, but on the whole this was a simple game to officiate. He didn't have to go to his pocket once throughout.
What next?
Ludogorets: Title-chasing Ludogorets will look to close the gap on CSKA Sofia when they host fifth-placed Lokomotiv Sofia on Sunday.
Liverpool: Liverpool, meanwhile, will look to end a miserable November with a victory when they host Stoke City at Anfield on Saturday.
Barney Corkhill
