Five years may have passed but it was like they had never been away.

No-one does agony to ecstasy in Europe quite like Liverpool.

Steven Gerrard's name echoed around Anfield as the skipper added another European rescue act to his bulging collection.

Gerrard's 93rd minute spot-kick ensured the Reds marked their return to the Champions League with victory in their opening Group B fixture but it was far from convincing against Bulgarian champions Ludogorets.

Somehow Brendan Rodgers' side emerged triumphant after a crazy and chaotic finale when the Kop experienced the full rollercoaster of emotions.

When Mario Balotelli fired home his first goal for the club eight minutes from time the Eagles' stubborn resistance appeared to have been broken.

But the hosts' joy soon turned to heartache as the Reds' glaring naivety and another dose of desperate defending allowed substitute Dani Abalo to run through and equalise.

Ludogorets were on the brink of the greatest achievement in their 13-year existence but deep into stoppage time they shot themselves in the foot.

Keeper Milan Borjan, making his debut after being signed as a free agent to solve the club's goalkeeping crisis, made a hash of Alexsander Aleksandrov's backpass.

In his desperation to clear his lines, the Canada international needlessly upended Javier Manquillo and Gerrard made him pay from the spot.

Anfield breathed a collective sigh of relief.

This was a night when the party atmosphere surrounding Liverpool's return to the big time gave way to a stadium increasingly gripped by anxiety and frustration.

There were no shortage of reminders for the current crop about the Reds' proud history in the competition as the Kop's pre-match mosaic displayed five European Cups and the miracle of Istanbul was celebrated in song.

But with five of Rodgers' starting line up having never played Champions League football before there is bound to be a period of adjustment.

Anyone expecting Ludogorets, who reached the last 16 of the Europa League last term, to simply roll over were in for a shock as they took on the role of party-poopers with relish.

The return of Raheem Sterling in place of Lazar Markovic gave Liverpool a welcome injection of quality following the league defeat to Aston Villa.

Inside five minutes Aleksandar Alexsandrov was booked for hacking the teenager down on halfway.

But for their possession there were familiar problems as they struggled to break down the visiting backline.

Left-back Alberto Moreno did his bit as the Spaniard was direct and purposeful. He tore forward at every opportunity but moments of real promise repeatedly came to nothing as the final ball was lacking.

Ludogorets' game plan was clear as they sat deep and then looked to catch the Reds on the counter-attack. There was plenty to keep their vociferous following interested as they made life increasingly awkward for the home side.

Crosses were allowed to come into the penalty box too easily with Philippe Coutinho getting it in the neck for not closing down quickly enough.

Midway through the first half Balotelli turned brilliantly into space only for Aleksandar Aleksandrov to block his piledriver. The ball dropped into the path of Adam Lallana but Borjan parried to safety.

Having never looked like breaking into a sweat against Villa, Balotelli's work rate was drastically improved.

The Italian frontman demanded possession and his movement was much better.

Liverpool should have broken the deadlock after finally carving the resolute Bulgarian backline apart seven minutes before the break.

Sterling's flick released Coutinho down the left and he picked out the on-rushing Jordan Henderson. The Reds' new vice-captain squared for Lallana but the ball got stuck under his boot and his deflected effort was hacked away by skipper Svetoslav Dyakov.

Liverpool's attempts at building momentum weren't helped by Slovenian referee Matej Jug, who infuriated the Kop with some baffling decisions.

But most of their problems were of their own making as they didn't move the ball quickly enough. There was neither the tempo nor the intensity Rodgers demands.

The message seemed to get through during the interval as the Reds began the second half with greater menace.

Coutinho and Henderson both forced saves from distance before Henderson's clipped pass released Javier Manquillo. Yet to the Kop's dismay he lifted his shot beyond Borjan and over the bar.

Ludogorets responded with a reminder of the dangers of throwing too many men forward with Junior Caicara stinging Simon Mignolet's palms.

The anxiety levels inside Anfield were turned up another notch when the Reds were caught napping from a throw-in but Slovenian striker Roman Bezjak failed to punish them.

Rodgers had seen enough and midway through the second half he sought fresh legs as Lucas Leiva and Fabio Borini replaced Coutinho and Lallana.

Gracing the Champions League just a fortnight after rejecting a move to QPR, Borini must be glad he ignored his manager's advice about moving on in search of a new challenge.

But the Italian failed to further his claims for a greater role in this side. Manquillo's pin-point cross found him six yards out but Borini's header was too close to Borjan, who turned it over the bar.

It was never one-way traffic and Liverpool enjoyed a major let-off 18 minutes from time.

Mamadou Sakho's careless error left the hosts exposed but Bezjak could only rattle the post.

Liverpool were in need of inspiration and Balotelli provided it when he latched on to Moreno's inviting cross and finished in style.

The Kop chanted their appreciation for 'Mario fantastico, Mario magnifico' but the sing-song didn't last for long.

Instead of displaying the composure required to see the game out, the Reds lost possession cheaply on the edge of Ludogorets' own box and left themselves horribly exposed.

For the second time in three days, Dejan Lovren was left red-raced as Abalo got away from him and rounded Mignolet to score.

Thankfully, another painful inquest was avoided courtesy of the gift from Borgan which Gerrard gleefully accepted. The man for the big occasion delivered under pressure again.

Source: Liverpool Echo