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Mario Balotelli shows why he was a risk worth taking for Liverpool Mario Balotelli shows why he was a risk worth taking for Liverpool
(35 minutes later)
Returning to the Champions League is not only about finance and frenzied Anfield nights for Liverpool but the development of a young team and a 41-year-old manager making his competitive debut in Europe. Ludogorets Razgrad, for all the palpitations they caused Brendan Rodgers’ team, were an ideal accelerant in that respect.Returning to the Champions League is not only about finance and frenzied Anfield nights for Liverpool but the development of a young team and a 41-year-old manager making his competitive debut in Europe. Ludogorets Razgrad, for all the palpitations they caused Brendan Rodgers’ team, were an ideal accelerant in that respect.
The Liverpool manager had requested more patience from his team and hard work from Mario Balotelli ahead of the club’s return to the European elite following a five-year absence. Both virtues, plus the traditional European influence of Steven Gerrard, proved invaluable as Liverpool opened their European campaign with a fortunate stoppage-time win over the champions of Bulgaria. The Liverpool manager had requested more patience from his team and hard work from Mario Balotelli before the club’s return to the European elite after a five-year absence. Both virtues, plus the traditional European influence of Steven Gerrard, proved invaluable as Liverpool opened their European campaign with a fortunate stoppage-time win over the champions of Bulgaria.
Five European Cups appeared on a Kop mosaic before kick-off, a little reminder to the rest of the competition of the history behind the “newcomers”, while the Ludogorets’ delegation in the front row of the Anfield directors’ box filmed the show on their phones. Liverpool would not be Champions League tourists, Rodgers declared, though it is sometimes necessary to adapt to different customs. A whistle-happy Slovenian referee and enterprising opponents from Bulgaria were part of the adaptation process for Liverpool. Patience, or the lack of it, is a requirement Rodgers hopes to remedy in his team long-term.Five European Cups appeared on a Kop mosaic before kick-off, a little reminder to the rest of the competition of the history behind the “newcomers”, while the Ludogorets’ delegation in the front row of the Anfield directors’ box filmed the show on their phones. Liverpool would not be Champions League tourists, Rodgers declared, though it is sometimes necessary to adapt to different customs. A whistle-happy Slovenian referee and enterprising opponents from Bulgaria were part of the adaptation process for Liverpool. Patience, or the lack of it, is a requirement Rodgers hopes to remedy in his team long-term.
Liverpool’s game-management was an issue Rodgers raised after the late capitulation at Crystal Palace last season and something he again touched on following Saturday’s home defeat by Aston Villa. “We usually start quick but we need to learn that if we don’t get goals in that early period then we need to be patient,” he said. “It was doubly-difficult for us on Saturday with not scoring and Aston Villa taking the lead. That challenge will come again, teams won’t want to open the game up against us and will rely on a set-piece or a counter-attack and that is something we need to work on.” Liverpool’s game-management was an issue Rodgers raised after the late capitulation at Crystal Palace last season and something he again touched on following Saturday’s home defeat by Aston Villa. “We usually start quick but we need to learn that, if we don’t get goals in that early period, then we need to be patient,” he said. “It was doubly-difficult for us on Saturday with not scoring and Aston Villa taking the lead. That challenge will come again, teams won’t want to open the game up against us and will rely on a set-piece or a counter-attack and that is something we need to work on.”
Given Liverpool’s response from the start, when six red shirts surged forward and only Gerrard, Alberto Moreno, Mamadou Sakho plus Dejan Lovren of the outfield players held back, they were evidently anxious to avoid a repeat against the Bulgarian champions. However, the challenge arrived again immediately and Anfield is still waiting to witness one of the blitzkriegs that demolished teams so quickly and so emphatically last season.Given Liverpool’s response from the start, when six red shirts surged forward and only Gerrard, Alberto Moreno, Mamadou Sakho plus Dejan Lovren of the outfield players held back, they were evidently anxious to avoid a repeat against the Bulgarian champions. However, the challenge arrived again immediately and Anfield is still waiting to witness one of the blitzkriegs that demolished teams so quickly and so emphatically last season.
Comparisons between Balotelli and Luis Suárez are futile and unfair but their contrasting styles offers an explanation for the current difficulties in breaking down teams on home soil. Whereas Suárez’s manic energy and relentless endeavour stretched defences from the start last season, creating space and chances for his team-mates in the process, Liverpool are now having to adjust to the Italian’s more languid style. The absence of Daniel Sturridge through injury has also disrupted the intuitive understanding between the Liverpool attack. Comparisons between Balotelli and Luis Suárez are futile and unfair but their contrasting styles offer an explanation for the current difficulties in breaking down teams on home soil. Whereas Suárez’s manic energy and relentless endeavour stretched defences from the start last season, creating space and chances for his team-mates in the process, Liverpool are now having to adjust to the Italian’s more languid style. The absence of Daniel Sturridge through injury has also disrupted the intuitive understanding between the Liverpool attack.
Balotelli, on only his third appearance for the club, showed far more than in the defeat by Villa and was unfortunate when he rolled Cosmin Moti on the edge of the visitors’ area and had a powerful shot blocked by the covering centre-half, Aleksandar Aleksandrov. The £16m signing from Milan fashioned another opening for himself before half-time but his low effort was comfortably saved by Ludogorets’ emergency keeper, Milan Borjan.Balotelli, on only his third appearance for the club, showed far more than in the defeat by Villa and was unfortunate when he rolled Cosmin Moti on the edge of the visitors’ area and had a powerful shot blocked by the covering centre-half, Aleksandar Aleksandrov. The £16m signing from Milan fashioned another opening for himself before half-time but his low effort was comfortably saved by Ludogorets’ emergency keeper, Milan Borjan.
The rapport between Balotelli and Raheem Sterling, felled frequently by the men in green, Philippe Coutinho or fellow new arrival Adam Lallana requires time to develop but the Italy international’s influence was growing on the game when he opened his Liverpool account in style with eight minutes remaining.The rapport between Balotelli and Raheem Sterling, felled frequently by the men in green, Philippe Coutinho or fellow new arrival Adam Lallana requires time to develop but the Italy international’s influence was growing on the game when he opened his Liverpool account in style with eight minutes remaining.
Liverpool’s patience could not be faulted as they pursued all angles for a breakthrough. They are still searching for that incisive quality when confronted by a disciplined back-line but showed they now possess different options. It was their full-backs, Javier Manquillo and Moreno, who created the clearer openings on the night with a series of inviting crosses, far more than usually seen at Anfield under Rodgers, and it was from the latter’s delivery that Balotelli converted an exquisite opening goal.Liverpool’s patience could not be faulted as they pursued all angles for a breakthrough. They are still searching for that incisive quality when confronted by a disciplined back-line but showed they now possess different options. It was their full-backs, Javier Manquillo and Moreno, who created the clearer openings on the night with a series of inviting crosses, far more than usually seen at Anfield under Rodgers, and it was from the latter’s delivery that Balotelli converted an exquisite opening goal.
Rodgers reverted to his trusted diamond on 67 minutes by introducing Fabio Borini alongside Balotelli and shifting Sterling in behind. It almost paid immediate dividends when Borini met Manquillo’s inviting cross with a clean header that Borjan tipped over but it was Liverpool who were reprieved when Roman Bezjak struck a post with 18 minutes remaining. They made the most of the let-off. Rodgers had reverted to his trusted diamond on 67 minutes by introducing Fabio Borini alongside Balotelli and shifting Sterling in behind. It almost paid immediate dividends when Borini met Manquillo’s inviting cross with a clean header that Borjan tipped over but it was Liverpool who were reprieved when Roman Bezjak struck a post with 18 minutes remaining. They made the most of the let-off.
Ten minutes later Balotelli, with his back to goal and Moti in close company, killed Moreno’s left-wing cross with his first touch, turned the ball inside the defender with his second and flicked a beautiful finish beyond Borjan into the far corner. His impact was almost forgotten amid the madness of the final seconds, but it was an emphatic reminder of why Rodgers perceived the 24-year-old as a calculated risk worth taking. Ten minutes later Balotelli, with his back to goal and Moti in close company, killed Moreno’s left-wing cross with his first touch, turned the ball inside the defender with his second and flicked a beautiful finish beyond Borjan into the far corner. His impact was almost forgotten amid the madness of the final seconds but it was an emphatic reminder of why Rodgers perceived the 24-year-old as a calculated risk worth taking.