Ludogorets Razgrad vs. Liverpool: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Liverpool face the possibility of seeing their Champions League adventure come to a swift halt unless they can beat Ludogorets Razgrad in Sofia on Wednesday evening.
Following last season's second-place finish in the Premier League, hopes were high for what this season's European campaign would hold, but the Reds have fallen flat.
Victory over the Bulgarian champions on Matchday 1 gives Brendan Rodgers' side some hope of emerging as victors in midweek. A failure to do so would make Basel favourites to take second spot in Group B.
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Read on for a breakdown of all the vital viewing information, along with a roundup of the top storylines heading into Liverpool's clutch fixture.
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 26
Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT/2:45 p.m. ET
TV Info: Sky Sports 5 (UK, red button), beIN Sports 4 (US)
Rodgers Fighting For His Future
After suffering four consecutive defeats across all competitions, Rodgers' fall from hero to villain at Anfield is reaching its most critical stage. Calls for his dismissal now ring louder than ever.
As Spanish journalist Sergi Dominguez attests, it's the Reds' worst start to a season in more than 20 years, and defeat to Ludogorets on Wednesday could provide the icing on a most unsavoury cake:
A 3-1 loss at Crystal Palace on Sunday was Liverpool's latest disappointment. Per Dominic King of the Daily Mail, Rodgers addressed concerns regarding his position following the Selhurst Park result:
"Any manager will tell you that you have to win games and get results, particularly after the way we have been developing as a club. I have great communication with the owners. We've been honest enough with each other and we have to get results. You have to perform. Owners and directors and chairmen have to see development on the field.
Barring this period, our development has been very good and fast. But there's no doubt you have to get results. That will support the confidence to the owners, and you take it from there. I will only ever do my best. The best has seen us develop well. Now I must fight even harder. The full responsibility comes down to me.
"
That pressure is more intense than ever right now, and while losses to the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City may be seen as forgivable offences, falling to Palace, Newcastle United, Aston Villa or Ludogorets are less so.
Prior to their 4-0 collapse against Basel last time out in the Champions League, Ludogorets had done well to concede just four goals in their opening two games of the campaign—two each against Real Madrid and Liverpool.
The Bulgarians will hope to re-summon some of that stinginess in defence if they're to claim a result, and a win would see them move three points ahead of Liverpool, almost as good as a seal on the Reds' fate.
A questionable summer of transfer investment has left Rodgers with a host of players struggling to make their impact felt at Anfield, but he now must show his tactical nous in succeeding with the tools at hand.
Balotelli Returning to Battle
Injury meant Mario Balotelli was unfit to feature at Selhurst Park over the weekend, but the 24-year-old will hope to return this week and could be back to fitness in time for Wednesday's encounter.
In his stead, it took Rickie Lambert just 91 seconds to register his first Premier League goal for Liverpool since his own summer switch, as confirmed by the Premier League:
After seeing Balotelli struggle for goals of late, and with the Italian's fitness raising questions, Lambert may feel that goal has at least given him some weight in the argument to start in midweek.
It's no secret that the absence of injured Daniel Sturridge has led to a drought up front for the Reds, and Goal.com's Wayne Veysey says new faces are needed this winter:
Balotelli scored in the first fixture against Ludogorets and may still be viewed by some as the more promising talent, despite hardly raising any prolific form at Anfield.
In such an important fixture, Rodgers will treat this particular decision with care as he attempts to seal what would be only a second Champions League win of the season.
