Twitter Reacts to Liverpool's Balotelli-Inspired Europa League Win vs. Besiktas

The last time Besiktas came to Anfield was November 2007 in the Champions League group stages. Liverpool destroyed the Turkish side with an 8-0 victory, which remains the biggest victory in the history of the competition...

"

Last time Liverpool played Besiktas pic.twitter.com/V7Bh0GrqUB

— GeniusFootball (@GeniusFootball) February 19, 2015"

On Thursday evening, there weren't as many goals in the Europa League round-of-32 first-leg clash, but there was plenty of narrative.

Before the game, much of the talk revolved around Besiktas striker Demba Ba, who famously benefited from Steven Gerrard's slip during the climax of last season's Premier League title race...

"

The last time Demba Ba played at Anfield... pic.twitter.com/ZIBqp9VMyE

— Football Funnys (@FootballFunnys) February 19, 2015"

"

Steven Gerrard's daughter!... http://t.co/mOtkUeUooh

— Footy Vines (@Footy_Vines) February 19, 2015"

Sadly, the Gerrard and Ba rematch was not to be, as the Liverpool talisman was in the studio, rather than on the field...

Prior to kick-off, images of Besiktas fans making their way towards the ground circulated on Twitter. Suffice to say, the visitors were making their presence known...

"

Besiktas fans having a quiet drink in Liverpool "@IanTaylor26: pic.twitter.com/1Khhx0WEyP"

— Football Mumble (@FootballMumble) February 19, 2015"

"

No John Lewis vouchers for Besiktas fans today... pic.twitter.com/IGbS5Ufkh7

— Football Fights (@FootbalIFights) February 19, 2015"

It wasn't just outside the stadium where Besiktas were trying to build a psychological advantage. When the match kicked off, several fans made an observation about their rather familiar-looking kit...

Within the first 10 minutes, play was broken up by a pitch invader... 

"

That pitch invader was Markovic.

— Daniela Alex (@hanidani) February 19, 2015"

"

If only that pitch invader had tackled Joe Allen ...

— Iago Aspas Corners (@Sennesation) February 19, 2015"

As has become customary during recent Liverpool games, Joe Allen was the subject of a steady stream of abuse in the early stages... 

"

90 seconds in and Joe Allen has already passed it from midfield back to Mignolet

— ..... (@MercyRuled) February 19, 2015"

As half-time approached, there wasn't an awful lot of action on the field to talk about...

Naturally, attention turned to the Besiktas fans, who were clearly beating the home crowd in the atmosphere stakes...

"

I wonder if the Besiktas fans are singing the Ste Gerrard slipping song in Turkish

— Liam Shaw (@liamshaw95) February 19, 2015"

Seconds before the half-time whistle, captain Jordan Henderson very nearly broke the deadlock with a great free kick. However, the 24-year-old wasn't impressing everyone...

"

Dreading the day Jordan Henderson becomes our full time captain 

— Calum Lawler (@CalumLawler) February 19, 2015"

"

Fox Sports commentator just called Jordan Henderson a "special player". Yeah, he is.... pic.twitter.com/3DBdsWJN6n

— Finn (@FutbolFinn) February 19, 2015"

"

Can't stop laughing at Jordan Henderson taking every free kick and corner pic.twitter.com/M2AGZ6k3zg

— ️ (@JoeOdwyer__) February 19, 2015"

As the second half started, ITV pundit Peter Reid was trending, thanks to his on-screen contributions. Criticism arrived on Twitter at a regular "tempo"...

"

Peter Reid basically advising liverpool to hoof the ball over to Ibe and Sturridge lol nahhhh

— Momo Sahko (@kmo_en) February 19, 2015"

"

Gordon Stachan just made Peter Reid look silly! PR: LFC need to change the tempo, playing some balls over the top GS: That's variation

— Martin Ho (@MartyyHo) February 19, 2015"

There was no such negativity, however, around Jordon Ibe. On the day that the winger locked in on a new long-term deal (as per the Guardian), he dazzled on the field and gave the Besiktas left-back an incredibly hard time. Apparently, there was just one word to describe the 19-year-old...

"

Jordan ibe absolute baller⚽️ #bigtings

— Billy Nicholson (@BillyNicholson1) February 19, 2015"

"

Jordan Ibe is playing so well, he's gunna be a baller

— T.A (@NoTattsJusScars) February 19, 2015"

Adam Lallana, meanwhile, channeled his inner Balotelli to miss a golden opportunity...

With half an hour to go, the aforementioned Italian striker made his entrance, perhaps in search of the kind of winning goal he managed against Tottenham Hotspur last week. Destiny clearly awaited the £16 million forward.

Super Mario immediately put in an impressive shift, even if his facial hair came in for some stick...

In the 84th minute, Mr Balotelli was finally given his moment to shine. When Ibe was felled in the box, the referee pointed to the spot and the substitute striker wrestled the ball from Henderson's hand to take the penalty...

The match finished 1-0 to Liverpool, and for the second time in as many games, it was the Kop's new hero Balotelli who secured the victory.

Follow me @RyanJayBailey