Bordeaux vs. Liverpool: Winners and Losers from Europa League Game
Liverpool's UEFA Europa League campaign began with a 1-1 draw at Bordeaux on Thursday night in Group B.
Adam Lallana broke the deadlock in the 65th minute with an excellently taken strike, but Jussie leveled for the hosts nine minutes from time to secure a share of the points.
Liverpool will be happy with a point after manager Brendan Rodgers selected an inexperienced side. But after taking a second-half lead, the visitors might feel they should have won.
Up next, Liverpool host Norwich City in the Premier League on Sunday. The Reds return to the Europa League with a home match against Sion on Oct. 1.
Here, B/R selects winners and losers from Thursday's match.
Winner and Loser: Adam Lallana
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Adam Lallana had a mixed game for Liverpool. On one hand, the England man took his chance superbly, blowing past a defender with a nutmeg before slotting home coolly into the far corner. On the other hand, he was ineffective for most of the first hour of the match.
In one sequence typical of his first-half display, Lallana squandered a big chance when he took too long on the ball. But the 27-year-old made up for it with a fine goal and an improved performance thereafter.
The key for Lallana, as always, will be consistency. Few would doubt the player's talent, but too often you never know what you'll get from him.
Winners: Liverpool's Young Stars
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With an eye on this weekend's Premier League clash with Norwich City, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers gave youth a chance on Thursday. For the most part, the youngsters impressed.
It was not difficult to follow Rodgers' reasoning in choosing youth in the Europa League. The Premier League is the club's priority, and back-to-back losses there have put the Northern Irishman under pressure.
Youth academy product Jordan Rossiter started in midfield and turned in a strong shift, drawing a 7/10 rating from Steven Kelly at ESPN FC. Kelly wrote:
"One or two rash and naive challenges aside, he did the simple things well and was a quality stand-in for Lucas Leiva. Rossiter helped protect a makeshift defence that had to change early on, and did it well while keeping his passing simple but effective. Good experience for a promising youngster.
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Pedro Chirivella entered the match as an early substitute for the injured Kolo Toure, and he also acquitted himself well. As the Times' Tony Barrett noted on Twitter, the combination of Chirivella and Rossiter helped Liverpool control the midfield.
Both players have more work to do in order to fully break into the first team, but Thursday's match suggested they have a bright future ahead.
Loser: Divock Origi
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One Liverpool youngster who did not impress was Divock Origi. Rodgers gave the 20-year-old forward a chance to start at the top of the formation, but Origi didn't appear ready for the job.
Admittedly, Origi suffered from a lack of service, but he failed to trouble Bordeaux's back line throughout his time on the pitch. The Belgian will have to improve if he wants more playing time with Liverpool's first XI.
Winner: Mamadou Sakho
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Thursday's match represented Mamadou Sakho's first action of the season for Liverpool, and his strong, steady display suggested Brendan Rodgers was wrong to leave him out until now.
Serving as captain for the night, Sakho led the three-man back line with strong all-around defending. According to Melissa Reddy, the France international recorded seven clearances, four headers, two tackles, two interceptions and one block.
It wasn't just the numbers, though. Sakho's experience helped anchor a team that lacked veteran leadership, especially after Toure left the match with an injury.
“Sakho was immense at the back,” Rodgers said, according to Ian Doyle at the Liverpool Echo. “He knows he has had to be patient and his attitude has been first class."
Rodgers added: “He has trained very well, kept professional, done his extra work on his fitness and he has got his rewards for that. He certainly comes into the reckoning for the weekend [against Norwich].”
The timing is good for Liverpool, who have conceded three goals in each of their last two Premier League matches. An in-form Sakho should help the Reds tighten up at the back.
Loser: Bordeaux's Record Against English Teams
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Bordeaux came into Thursday's match with a poor record against English teams. According to Opta, Les Girondins had lost seven of 10 when meeting English opposition in European competitions.
Jussie's late equalizer ensured that didn't become eight in 11, but Bordeaux's record against England remains wretched. Against a weakened Liverpool side, manager Willy Sagnol must have been hoping to turn that trend around.
