Mario Balotelli: Liverpool 2 Ludogorets 1

Mario Balotelli: Liverpool 2 Ludogorets 1 - How did the striker perform for Brendan Rodgers’ team as the Champions League returned to Anfield?

Baffling or brilliant? Have your say and vote on the £16million Italian striker?

 It was an edgy evening for Liverpool after five years away from the European Cup and it took injury-time drama for minnows Ludogorets to be beaten on Merseyside.

Most of Anfield, and probably manager Brendan Rodgers, too, had probably anticipated an easier evening against their underdog opposition - regardless of an adapting, inexperienced, new-look squad. So why was it such a nervy night?

Mario Balotelli, the player with the third-highest number of UEFA Champions League appearances in Liverpool's squad, scored his first goal since his £16million arrival from AC Milan but Steven Gerrard’s injury-time penalty was later required to squeeze out Dani Abalo’s equaliser.

Were you impressed by Balotelli. Did the Italian drop too deep? Was the former Manchester City striker brilliant or baffling? We used Opta data to monitor his performance, plus you can have your say and vote below…

3RD MINUTE

As Liverpool make a fast-paced start, unlike their defeat by Aston Villa, Balotelli darts down the inside left channel and holds the ball up intelligently against Ludogorets defenders before winning a free-kick. Thirty seconds later, he picks up the ball deep, which will remain a trend for the match, and carries it into Ludogorets territory. But Adam Lallana is then offside.