Bordeaux 1-1 Liverpool: Adam Lallana opens scoring with vintage solo goal but substitute Jussie spoils Brendan Rodgers' night
- Adam Lallana picked the ball up on the edge of the box before dribbling past Pablo and confidently firing home
- Substitute Jussie pounced on a loose ball in the box and fired home beyond Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool goal
- Belgium striker Divock Origi made the first start of his Liverpool career but the forward was ineffective in attack
- Emre Can, Mignolet and Joe Gomez kept their place in the team following the defeat by Manchester United
There
were no smiles or fist pumping celebrations. The reaction in the away
end was muted and the manager, after exchanging a few cursory
handshakes, swiftly disappeared down the tunnel.
Happiness
was not the overriding emotion for Brendan Rodgers or Liverpool’s
players but there was, without question, a sense of relief; this 1-1
draw will not feature anywhere on the list of the club’s best European
results but at least it afforded the manager some respite.
It
could have been more. Adam Lallana’s brilliant goal should have been
enough but they were unable to withstand a late flurry and paid the
price in the final 10 minutes when Bordeaux substitute Jussie swept in
an equaliser to leave Rodgers rubbing his head in frustration.
Adam Lallana picked the ball up on the
edge of the box from Alberto Moreno before dribbling past Pablo and
confidently firing home
Former Southampton star Lallana celebrates what he thought was the winner in their group stage clash in Bordeaux
The England international is mobbed by his Liverpool team-mates after opening the scoring in Thursday's Europa League clash
Bordeaux substitute Jussie picked up the loose ball in the box and fired home beyond Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool goal
Bordeaux's Jussie (left) celebrates his goal against Premier League giants Liverpool with his team-mate Diego Rolan
The home side were on the brink of losing their Europa League clash before Jussie came to their rescue with a confident finish
Yet,
after those ruinous days against West Ham and Manchester United, it was
not another backward step; a point leaves them in charge of their
destiny in Group B, even if there little sense of contentment.
‘It’s
always tough away in Europe,’ said Rodgers. ‘I was disappointed with
conceding a goal so late on but if you can’t win, then it’s important
you get a point and I felt we deserved at least that. I was satisfied
with the performance, particularly with so many of the young ones.’
With
such names as Christian Benteke, Daniel Sturridge and Martin Skrtel
back on Merseyside along with injured captain Jordan Henderson, it was
easy to come to the conclusion that Rodgers had sent out a team that was
down to the bares bones.
When
you looked at the team sheet, though, the starting line-up cost almost
£100million and the substitutes’ bench had a £29million Brazil
international sitting on it – there are teams in the Barclays Premier
League that would move heaven and earth to be able to spend such money
on their squads.
Aside
from making several changes, the system was also rejigged and Liverpool
reverted back to the 3-4-3 formation he deployed in the second half of
last season. They were better for it, with captain for the night Mamadou
Sakho – “immense,” Rodgers called him – catching the eye.
Even
when Kolo Toure went off injured following a collision with Simon
Mignolet, Liverpool were comfortable, so much so that the untried Pedro
Chirivella – an 18-year-old Spanish midfielder – was able to slot
alongside Jordan Rossiter without much trouble.
‘I
was so proud of them,’ said Rodgers. ‘As the game went on they did
better and better, so it was invaluable experience. They acquitted
themselves well. I will always give kids a chance if they have
personality.’
It
must be said, though, that Bordeaux were, for all their enthusiasm,
limited. Bar a couple of half chances in the first 45 minutes, they
lacked invention and Liverpool, for all their tentativeness, came
closest to opening the scoring when Philippe Coutinho struck a post.
The Liverpool squad look dejected after conceding a late equaliser against French side Bordeaux on Thursday evening
Liverpool midfielder Lallana (left) challenges Bordeaux's Nicolas Maurice-Belay (right) during their Europa League clash
Jordon Ibe (left) was handed a start
by Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool forward looks to impress as he puts
pressure on Maxime Poundje
Philippe Coutinho (centre), who missed
his side's defeat by Manchester United through suspension, controls the
ball under pressure
England international Lallana times his challenge well as he looks to put the pressure on Maurice-Belay of Bordeaux
Kolo Toure (right) returned to the
starting line-up after Rodgers rested first-choice centre-backs Martin
Skrtel and Dejan Lovren
They
began the second half with purpose, however, and took the lead when
Lallana nut-megged Brazilian defender Pablo before rifling a shot past
Cedric Carrasso. It was an exquisite moment, one that was not within
keeping with the standard of the game.
That
really should have been enough but Liverpool began to drop deep and in
the 81st minute Juisse pounced on a loose ball to equalise. A side with
more class would have inflicted greater damage but, on this occasion,
they were able to grind it out.
‘I
said to the players that in European football a point is never bad,’
Rodgers revealed. ‘I want to win them all but your home games mean a
lot. We won the group last time (in 2012) with 10 points, so this was
encouraging.’
Our fantastic MATCH ZONE shows Adam Lallana's fine solo goal in the second half- click here for more Europa League analysis
However, the Liverpool defender was
unable to shake off an injury he picked up in the first half and he was
replaced by Pedro Chirivella
Bordeaux midfielder Wahbi Khazri urges his team on during their Europa League clash against their Premier League oppenents
Emre Can (left), who was one of three players to keep their place following the United defeat, is challenged by Clement Chantome
Liverpool's stand-in captain Mamadou
Sakho competes for the ball with Diego Rolan as his side bid to begin
their campaign with a win
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