Following Liverpool’s disappointing draw with PFC Ludogorets in the Champions League last night, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers has refused to blame Simon Mignolet for yet another blunder that could very well have seen his side make a premature exit from the Champions League.
Dani Abalo gave the Bulgarians an early lead when he prodded home a free ball after the Belgian ‘keeper failed to hold on to Marcelinho’s speculative shot. Although Rickie Lambert quickly restored parity before Jordan Henderson gave the visitors a shaky lead before the break, another last minute meltdown in the Reds defence gifted their hosts a generous equalizer and kept the Merseysiders from recording their first win in four matches — something that Rodgers brushed over in his post-match press conference.
“It was disappointing for the team to go a goal behind so early on but thankfully it didn’t cost us,” the Northern Irishman explained to the press following the match. “The pitch was difficult for players and the goalkeepers, and it was especially bobbly around the 18-yard box. The players showed character to come back and not let it affect them.”
Liverpool needed at least a draw to keep their Champions League campaign alive and will face a do or die meeting with FC Basel at Anfield next month. While a manager defending a player is a bit of a non-story, Mignolet’s performance in Bulgaria and, in truth, the last few matches, has done nothing to prove his growing number of detractors wrong. Although speculation linking us with a move for a replacement — or someone to “provide competition” for him as it’s so delicately been worded in the past — has quieted for the time being, it’s sure to ratchet back up as we approach the turn of the year when the transfer window re-opens.
