Simon Mignolet’s error gave the Bulgarians an early lead before Rickie Lambert and Jordan Henderson turned it around but a late equaliser denied the Reds a morale-boosting win

Liverpool’s hopes of Champions League qualification remain alive but a late goal denied them a win over Ludogorets, the final score 2-2.

The Bulgarian side took a shock lead in just the third minute when a disastrous Simon Mignolet error allowed Dani Abalo to pounce and score but Rickie Lambert took advantage of some similarly dreadful home defending to equalise only five minutes later for his first European goal.

Raheem Sterling then broke free to cross for Jordan Henderson to give the Reds the lead before half-time but Brendan Rodgers’s side switched off at the death when Georgi Terziev scored from a corner.

Liverpool now need to beat Basel in their final group game if they are to reach the knockout stages.

More to follow…

The Reds boss has insisted the club are focused on matches, not future players, and is hoping his side can start to reverse their fortunes with a win at Ludogorets

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers says he is not keeping a lookout for winter transfer recruits despite a poor start to the season.

The Reds are currently 12th in the Premier League table, just four points off the relegation places and have lost their last four games in a row.

Rodgers spent heavily in the summer, following the departure of Luis Suarez, bringing in players such as Mario Balotelli, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren but has played down any further arrivals.

“It [buying new players] is not something I am looking at,” he told reporters. “After the weekend, the focus was not to dwell on that. We have to learn from that and try and get a result here [Ludogorets].”

Liverpool face Ludogorets in the Champions League on Wednesday needing a win to boost their qualification hopes and Rodgers is hoping his side can begin to turn their season around.

“Sometimes it just takes a game, an action to change a season for you,” he added. “We have to believe that can happen. We haven’t been anywhere near our levels. But you can never give up.

“We have to believe that the honesty of the group will get us the results and that is what we will keep working towards.

“I just need to get us back to a level of confidence that allows you to perform. Losing can be the making of you. You learn from it. That is what we are aiming to do.

“When you don’t have so much coaching time, it is mostly psychological what you are trying to achieve. If we focus on that too much there is no way we could play to our level.

“We need to make sure the training ground is a happy place to be. We have lost more than we would have liked. But the next game is an opportunity. You try to affect the players in a positive way.”

With the Reds coming into a must-win Champions League game after three consecutive defeats in the competition, the Northern Irishman wants to settle nerves with the first strike

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is looking for his side to boost their hopes of reaching the Champions League last 16 with a fast start against Ludogorets.

After three consecutive defeats in Group B, the Reds need to beat the Bulgarians and Basel in their final two matches to progress.

They go into Wednesday’s game having lost their last four in all competitions, though, and Rodgers knows that an early goal is essential for his struggling players.

“The way I work is to never dwell on the past,” he told reporters. “Anyone can make mistakes. We need to focus on the next game.

“We will keep fighting and working in the belief that the honesty and commitment of the group will get us the results.

“We haven’t gotten the results and we haven’t been consistent. If we get the first goal, that can give us the confidence.”

The Liverpool boss expects a tough test against the side whom they beat 2-1 on matchday one, however.

“It’s the same as any other game,” he added. “We give Ludogorets a lot of respect. They have showed they are a good side with very good players [in the first game]. It was a very tough game at Anfield.

“We arrive here with big motivation. We will do everything we can to get a result.”