The Merseyside club are back in Europe’s premier competition for the first time in five years and host the Bulgarian champions at Anfield on Tuesday evening

Liverpool will attempt to overcome a mixed start to the season when they appear in the Champions League for the first time in five years on Tuesday night.

A 1-0 home Premier League loss to Aston Villa on Saturday continued an indifferent start to the campaign for Brendan Rodgers’ men, who have managed just six points from their first four games.

But the prospect of Europe’s elite club competition returning to Anfield certainly offers cause for optimism, especially with Ludogorets representing a comfortable-looking opening fixture in Group B for the five-time winners.

Liverpool fans will be buoyed, too, by Raheem Sterling’s return to the starting line-up on Tuesday. The forward was surprisingly rested by Rodgers against Villa, only coming on as a second-half substitute.

“We have an exciting couple of months and this was a game I felt we could do that,” Rodgers said. “If he didn’t have international football then it would have been the case.

“He is a big player for us but we have built a squad here where I have to trust all the players but as a team and a squad we didn’t deliver. He will certainly play on Tuesday night.”

Sterling will no doubt relish the chance to showcase his skills in the Champions League for the first time – much like Rodgers, who embarks upon his maiden voyage in the competition.

“This game [versus Villa] has gone and we now have to focus on that,” Rodgers said. “There is nothing better than to get going again on Tuesday night in a competition we love. Hopefully we can start that competition with three points.”

Liverpool’s chances will be hampered by the absence of Daniel Sturridge, who will spend a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a thigh injury.

He is one of many players to have missed the weekend’s clash, with Emre Can (ankle), Martin Skrtel (knock) and Joe Allen (knee) sidelined along with Glen Johnson and Joe Flanagan (both thigh).

With just a three-day turnaround before Tuesday’s encounter, all five are doubtful once more.

It will be a game of firsts for Ludogorets, who have never appeared in the tournament or played in England previously.

They reached this phase by coming through a tricky qualifying campaign, defeating Luxembourg’s F91 Dudelange, Serbia’s FK Partizan and Romanian side Steaua Bucharest.

Ludogorets have begun the Bulgarian season solidly, picking up 15 points in eight games to sit third in the table. They will take on Liverpool amid something of a goalkeeping crisis, however.

First choice Vladislav Stoyanov is missing as he serves a one-match suspension, while his understudy, Ivan Cvorovic, has a shoulder injury.

That leaves coach Georgi Dermendzhiev relying on 23-year-old Georgi Argilashki, though defender Cosmin Moti was the unlikely goalkeeping hero when he saved two penalties in the shoot-out victory over Steaua.

“Argilashki is a quality keeper,” said Dermendzhiev. “He was part of the team for three years now and we can rely on him.”

The striker struck early in the first-half to give his side the lead and the Reds could not hit back, with Paul Lambert’s side turning in a brilliant defensive performance

Gabriel Agbonlahor’s early strike was enough for Aston Villa to beat Liverpool 1-0 and continue their excellent recent form at Anfield on Saturday.

Villa drew 2-2 at Liverpool in the Premier League last season after winning 3-1 in their previous visit and Brendan Rodgers’ side were once again found wanting against Paul Lambert’s men this time out.

Agbonlahor capitalised on hesitant defending in the eighth minute to put Villa in front and there was no way back for Lthe Reds.

Philippe Senderos should have doubled Villa’s advantage during an impressive start from Paul Lambert’s men.

Senderos and his fellow defenders then produced a successful second-half rearguard display, during which Liverpool struggled to create a clear opening until Philippe Coutinho crashed an 81st-minute shot against the post.

Three wins and a draw from their opening games represents Villa’s best start to a Premier League season for 16 years, while two wins and as many defeats mean Liverpool are already six points behind early pacesetters Chelsea.

Tom Cleverley replaced Charles N’Zogbia in the Aston Villa midfield following his loan move from Manchester United, while Nathan Baker replaced Ron Vlaar at centre-back due to the club captain’s calf injury.

Liverpool’s front three of Lazar Markovic, Adam Lallana and Mario Balotelli were all making their home debuts in a line-up featuring six close-season signings.

On the back of his midweek exertions for England and perhaps with an eye on Liverpool’s Champions League return on Tuesday night, Raheem Sterling started on the bench.

Markovic crashed an early volley over the crossbar and also glanced a sixth-minute Javi Manquillo cross over when the on-rushing Balotelli appeared better placed to finish.

But it was Villa who drew first blood as Agbonlahor turned home Senderos’ header from Ashley Westwood’s corner.

An unmarked Senderos should have doubled Villa’s lead in the 13th minute after Lallana earned a booking for a rash challenge on Cleverley.

But, having gone close, Senderos was fortunate not to be punished for a petulant kick out at Balotelli midway through the half.

The former Arsenal centre-back then contributed in more legitimate fashion when he blocked Lallana’s 32nd-minute volley from Jordan Henderson’s knock-down.

Lallana sent a rasping 43rd-minute drive narrowly wide and Liverpool belatedly rallied in the closing moments of the first half – Balotelli’s speculative strike looping over off Alan Hutton before Baker produced a vital stoppage time block as Alberto Moreno stormed into the box.

Liverpool pegged Villa inside their own half at the start of the second half, with Balotelli glancing a header wide from a 48th-minute corner as the home side were restricted to half chances.

Sterling replaced Lallana with an hour played and Hutton was rightly booked for greeting the England forward with a robust challenge that prompted a scuffle involving players from both teams.

Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert replaced Balotelli and Markovic with 20 minutes remaining and Liverpool came close to an equaliser when Coutinho’s effort at the end of a jinking run came back off the upright.

But it proved to be the closest Liverpool came as they endured yet more frustration at the hands of Villa.

The England teenager has been in superb form since the start of 2014 for club and country and is looking to emulate the Ballon d’Or winner in the coming years

Raheem Sterling has admitted he looks up to Cristiano Ronaldo and is aiming to reach a similar level as the world’s elite players.

The 19-year-old has impressed since the beginning of 2014 after breaking into the Liverpool starting XI on a regular basis, and is now seen as a key figure for both club and country.

He has already scored twice for Brendan Rodgers’ side in their opening three Premier League fixtures and is hoping he can improve his goalscoring record and become one of the modern greats.

“I try not to put pressure on myself, but I’m looking to improve my goals to game ratio and try to chip in more for the team,” he told the Daily Mirror.

“If I am not scoring I need to be assisting and making goals which is a massive part of my game which I need to improve on really. That is my main aim this season to get that goals-per-game ratio up.

“I really look up to Cristiano Ronaldo, he is someone that has always been an idol to me, but I’m not going to say any more other than the players I look up to are the best in the world, and everyone wants to be like the best in the world.”

Sterling will be able to pit himself against his hero when the Reds take on Real Madrid during the Champions League group stage with the two European giants drawn alongside FC Basel and Ludogorets in Group B.

Playing in club football’s elite competition is just the next step in Sterling’s development after he was part of Liverpool’s title bid in 2013-14 before representing England at the World Cup.

And the winger is keen to keep improving after a whirlwind year which has seen him become one of the Premier League’s biggest stars.

“It has definitely been a remarkable 12 months for me, it has been a quick turnaround but that is football for you. It changes within seconds really.

“So I am focusing this season on going again and going onto the next level which I know i can reach. I’m determined it is only a matter of time before I get there.”