Ludogorets vs. Liverpool: Score, Grades, Reaction from Champions League Game

An 87th-minute equaliser frustrated Liverpool as they were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw with Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The Reds are not out of the competition, despite Georgi Terziev's late strike, but know they must now beat Basel in their final game of the group if they are to make it to the last 16 of the competition.

In Sofia, Bulgaria, it was Dani Abalo who broke the deadlock for the hosts after just three minutes before Rickie Lambert—days after grabbing his first-ever goal for the club—broke his Champions League duck with a close-range header.

Jordan Henderson then gave Liverpool a lead shortly before half-time, and Brendan Rodgers' side looked like they would hold on until Terziev turned home from a corner in the dying throes of the game.

The strike threatened to be fatal to Liverpool's chances, but Basel's 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid elsewhere on the night means the Reds can still reach the knockout stages. 

Afterward, Henderson told Sky Sports:

"

We knew we needed to show character tonight. I thought we showed great character to stay in the game after going 1-0 down very early. We looked dangerous on the counter-attack and more solid—but it was disappointing to concede at the end.

"

Rodgers, also speaking to Sky Sports, added: "We showed wonderful character tonight. We are obviously disappointed with the goal at the end but it’s irrelevant, we need to win against Basel now. I think at the beginning of the campaign we would have seen that as the game that would hopefully see us through."

After facing a lot of scrutiny for his team selection in Liverpool's previous European fixture, away against Real Madrid, Rodgers made a few changes for this vital fixture, with Steven Gerrard promoted to the tip of the diamond behind lone striker Rickie Lambert.

The presence of Lucas Leiva, Joe Allen and Henderson ensured the Premier League side had plenty of presence in the middle of the park, although they were able to do little as the Reds went behind after just three minutes.

Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was the guilty party, fumbling Marcelinho's speculative long-range strike right into the path of Abalo, who made no mistake as he turned home the rebound.

The original shot may have bounced awkwardly in front of Mignolet, but it nevertheless should have been handled better by the Belgian.

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Dani Abalo scores for Ludogorets after horrendous keeping from Simon Mignolet #Goal #UCL #LFC #Soccervines https://t.co/7KEkqcOq3U via @vine

— Footy Banter (@FootyBanter6) November 26, 2014"

It was a horror start for the Reds, but within five minutes they were back on terms. Fresh from getting his first goal for his club at the weekend, it was Lambert who continued to repay his manager's newfound faith in him; the striker was the beneficiary of some truly woeful Ludogorets defending, as he headed home as scrappy a goal as you are ever likely to see.

After that blistering start to the game, it slowly settled into a rhythm, with the home side making the majority of the chances and applying the pressure.

Yordan Minev, Cosmin Moti and the ever-inventive Marcelinho all had chances to beat Mignolet for a second time, as Raheem Sterling proved the one real attacking spark for the visitors.

As it turned out, it was his greater quality that would end up breaking the deadlock again. The ball was played to the winger out on the left, who ran beyond his man and put in a perfect ball for Henderson at the far post—the midfielder getting full reward for his lung-busting run into the box as he flicked his finish over Vladislav Stoyanov.

The second half was an often tense affair, with Liverpool unable to make their perceived greater class tell as the Bulgarians, buoyed by the vocal crowd, continued to push forward. The Reds defended well, however, with Ludogorets reduced to shots from outside the area as they searched desperately for an equaliser.

With 10 minutes remaining, Liverpool had a glorious chance to kill off the game once and for all. It was Gerrard, in a rare moment of class in an otherwise anonymous performance, who played the role of provider, turning on the ball in the middle of the pitch and playing in a perfect pass for the onrushing Sterling.

Darko Vojinovic/Associated Press

The forward did not have much time to pick his shot, and under pressure from the recovering defenders, his eventual effort was parried away by the lunging Stoyanov.

That escape seemed to further boost Ludogorets' growing confidence, and with three minutes remaining of normal time, they stole a point.

It came from a corner, Svetoslav Dyakov's flick-on at the near post falling perfectly for Terziev to turn home from barely three yards out.

That was a hammer blow for Liverpool, who had just withdrawn Sterling in a bid to preserve their precarious lead. They tried to push forward in pursuit of a decisive third goal, but it was Ludogorets, by now roared on by their supporters, who always looked the more threatening—although there would be no final gilt-edged chance to provide one further twist in the tale.

"It meant a lot [to score]," Lambert said, also speaking to Sky Sports, after the game. "I thought the performance was much better. We are devastated about the goal at the end, but it is still a good result.

"A win on the last day will get us through—and it's about getting through."

Player Ratings

Player	Rating
Vladislav Stoyanov	7
Yordan Minev	6
Cosmin Moti	7
Georgi Terziev	7
Junior Caicara	7
Mihail Ivanov	6
Fabio Espinho	7
Svetoslav Dyakov	7
Marcelinho	8
Virgil Misidjan	7
Dani Abalo	7
Substitutions
Junior Quixada	7
Wanderson	7
Younes Hamza	7

Player	Rating
Simon Mignolet	6
Glen Johnson	6
Kolo Toure	7
Martin Skrtel	7
Javi Manquillo	6
Steven Gerrard	6
Lucas Leiva	7
Jordan Henderson	8
Joe Allen	7
Raheem Sterling	7
Rickie Lambert	7
Substitutions
Alberto Moreno	6

What's Next?

Liverpool hosts Basel at Anfield on Matchday 6 of the Champions League, while Ludogorets face the daunting prospect of travelling to meet Real Madrid.

All quotes taken from Sky Sports' live post-match broadcast.