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Steven Gerrard admits Liverpool were far from their best as they marked their return to the Champions League with a dramatic 2-1 win over Ludogorets at Anfield.

The Reds skipper coolly slotted home a 93rd minute penalty to ensure Brendan Rodgers’ men kicked off Group B with maximum points.

It was an unconvincing display but Gerrard insists a new-look Liverpool side will improve over the coming months.

“We are very relieved,” Gerrard said.

“It was very important to start this competition with a win. I don’t think it was a very good performance from ourselves but we have managed to take the three points which is vital.

“They caused us quite a few problems on the counter-attack and we have got to learn from that.

“But I think we will get better as the season progresses. We have got a lot of new faces trying to find their feet and settle in and there’s a lot of expectancy on us because of how well we performed last year.

“It will take time to get back to that level, hopefully sooner rather than later. Sometimes you have to crawl before you can walk.”

The game in pictures:

Gerrard was impressed by the contribution of £16million striker Mario Balotelli, who broke the deadlock eight minutes from time with his first goal for the club.

“I think it will be the first of many,” he said.

“I thought he worked his socks off. You look at strikers and sometimes when it’s not going their way they sulk but he was relentless and he stayed in there.

“The one good chance which came his way he took and it was a great finish.”

Anfield was left stunned in the 90th minute when Ludogorets substitute Dani Abalo burst through to equalise.

But the Reds picked themselves up and deep into stoppage time keeper Milan Borjan made a hash of a backpass and upended Javier Manquillo inside the box.

Gerrard held his nerve from the spot to score his 29th goal in the competition and his 40th for the club in Europe.

Watch: LFC mosaic before kick off at Anfield

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“Manquillo has done very well since he came in, not just tonight,” he said.

“That is the type of defender he is – front foot, aggressive, very attacking. He got rewarded tonight for being brave and ambitious and for being down that end of the field.

“A lot of full-backs would have been staying back trying to get a draw out of the game. But he chased down a lost cause and we got rewarded for it.”

Gerrard also delivered a ringing endorsement of Rodgers’ decision to appoint Jordan Henderson as the Reds’ new vice-captain.

The long-serving midfielder expects Henderson to go on and take the armband from him when he finally calls time on his glittering career.

He said: “It’s very well deserved. It’s no surprise to me.

“I’m sure he will be the main man and club captain in a few years when I’ve gone.

“He epitomises everything a captain is – he works hard, both on and off the pitch, he’s well liked in the dressing room, he leads by example and let’s not forget, he’s a top player as well.”

*Analysis:what we learned on dramatic Champions League night