Liverpool still alive in the Champions League

Brendan Rodgers Liverpool are still in the Champions League after a 2-2 draw with Bulgarian side Ludogorets

Liverpool drew 2-2 in the Champions League at Bulgarian side Ludogorets on Wednesday night.

The Reds looked set to be heading for victory until an 88^th minute equaliser from Georgi Terziev gave the home side a point.

The result means that Liverpool still have a chance of making the knockout stages of the competition.

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Liverpool had suffered four consecutive defeats in all competitions prior to the visit to Bulgaria and badly needed to end that losing run.

A defeat coupled with an unlikely victory for Basel against Real Madrid would have seen the Reds eliminated from the competition.

However, it turns out that a draw in Bulgaria has now put the Reds Champions League fate in their own hands.

Chance

Liverpool’s poor form this season has been well-documented. The Reds are currently sitting in the bottom half of the Premier League table, but somehow they still have a chance to make it into the knockout stages of the competition with a home victory over Basel in their remaining group game.

The Swiss champions will be no pushovers though, as they proved in the reverse fixture as they collected a 1-0 victory against the Reds. Basel have caused the likes of Spurs and Chelsea problems in recent European competitions.

Despite their current poor form the Reds will be favourites to win at Anfield and claim a place in the knockout stages of the competition.

Defence

Ludogorets were supposed to be the group’s whipping boys, but are currently level with the Reds on points in the group table. Despite being regarded as the weakest teams in the group Ludogorets still managed to put two goals past the leaky Reds defence.

The Reds have now conceded seven goals in their last three games in all competitions. Keeper Simon Mignolet has looked less than convincing in between the sticks for the Reds this season. The Belgian international arrived on Merseyside as a highly-rated young keeper, but he has struggled for consistency for the Reds.

With his form inconsistent, the players in front of him are bound to be less than confident in their keeper’s ability to stop the opposition if they do not. At the moment the Liverpool defence are struggling to stop opposition teams from creating chances and scoring goals. Mignolet’s form is not helping either.

The summer arrival of defenders Alberto Moreno, Dejan Lovren and Javier Manquillo has done very little to correct their defensive problems. Liverpool are still conceding too many goals and looking vulnerable against every team they come up against.

Their defensive problems cost the Reds the Premier League title last season, as they conceded 50 goals. Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has not been able to fix the team’s defensive problems, despite spending over £100million in the summer.

Confidence

Liverpool’s problems this season have been caused by a chronic lack of confidence within the players. The same players who looked like world beaters last season are now looking like they are completely bereft of confidence.

Winger Raheem Sterling has struggled to recreate the form of last season, but against Ludogorets it looked like that form was finally returning. The England looked a big threat to the Bulgarians, until he was substituted in the second half.

The Reds desperately need the youngster to rediscover his best form. Sterling is still regarded as one of the brightest players in English football, but many have been worried about him being burnt out this season, especially as he told England boss Roy Hodgson he was tired earlier this season.

It seems tiredness and lack of confidence has also spread to the youngster and when he regains his full fitness he could return to form.

Struggle

If Liverpool’s current form is anything to go by the Reds would struggle in the knockout stages, even if they do qualify. The fact that the best the Reds can do is second place in the group is going to mean that should they qualify, the Reds could face some of Europe’s superpowers in the knockout stages.

The main thing for Liverpool at the moment is that they are still in the competition and they will hope that ending their losing run will help inspire a recovery in the Premier League.

Will Liverpool make it through to the knockout stages of the Champions League?