Liverpool vs. Bordeaux: Score, Reaction from 2015 Europa League Match

Liverpool qualified for the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League as they beat visitors Bordeaux 2-1 at Anfield on Thursday.

Henri Saivet opened the scoring following a Simon Mignolet gaffe, before a James Milner penalty and a goal from Christian Benteke put the Reds ahead at half-time.

The win was fairly laboured, though Liverpool were much the better side overall and Bordeaux created next to nothing—their only real chances coming from the home side's mistakes.

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The hosts pushed forward in numbers from the outset—Roberto Firmino sent a half-volley wide from Mignolet's long ball, while Benteke gave away a free-kick in an attempt to get on the end of Alberto Moreno's cross.

It was Bordeaux who had the best chance of the early stages, though, when Mignolet sent a headed clearance straight to an opposing player, and Kolo Toure was forced to make a goal-saving block.

The visitors were gifted their next chance after Mignolet was pulled up for holding onto the ball for over 20 seconds—well beyond the six seconds he's entitled to.

The Belgian conceded an indirect free-kick two yards inside the area, and Jaroslav Plasil rolled the ball for Saivet to thump into the top corner, per BT Sport Football:

Football writer Jack Lusby was particularly critical of the hapless 'keeper:

Just five minutes later, Mignolet's blushes were somewhat spared when Benteke was hauled down by Ludovic Sane in the penalty box, and the Bordeaux defender was rightly penalised. Milner dispatched the spot-kick with ease:

The striker, who at 0-0 had a goal correctly disallowed for offside, was involved again on the stroke of half-time when he touched down Nathaniel Clyne's cross and lashed in a powerful effort from the edge of the area:

Benteke should have doubled his tally shortly after the break from Firmino's pull-back, but the 24-year-old blazed his effort over the bar from inside the area.

The forward, who made himself a useful outlet up front, had yet another goal chalked off several minutes later—this time for tripping a defender in the build-up as the pair raced to get on the end of Firmino's ball, and he was then perhaps fortunate not to give away a penalty for a handball while defending a corner.

Clear-cut chances were at a premium after that as both sides lacked the required inventiveness to cause the other serious problems, which came in handy for the Reds in the later stages when Bordeaux had much more of the ball.

As the game wore on, the only notable effort on goal came from a Saivet free-kick, but Mignolet was equal to the curling set piece as Liverpool held on fairly comfortably.

Lusby noted the importance of the result:

Though the performance was hardly as vintage as the 4-1 win over Manchester City, Liverpool are continuing to grow and pick up positive results under Jurgen Klopp, and the club will be one of the teams to beat in the knockout stages.

However, Bordeaux's goal serves as a timely reminder that Mignolet—who was largely having an error-free season—still has an embarrassing gaffe in his locker that can prove costly, so don't be surprised if Klopp seeks a replacement No. 1 in January or next summer.

Post-Match Reaction

Klopp was in a relaxed mood after the match despite Mignolet's error, per BT Sport Football:

The German did make a quip at his expense in the post-match press conference, though, per the Times' Tony Barrett:

Liverpool's last match in Group B will see them travel to Sion in Switzerland.