When Liverpool were drawn alongside PFC Ludogrets, Real Madrid and FC Basel in the group stages of the Champions League, there were a number of Reds fans wringing their hands at not only the prospect of hitting the continent in Europe’s most prestigious club competition for the first time in five years, but also at the “easier” group they were handed.
While squaring off against the reigning champions is certainly a cause for concern, the other two names to come out of the pot didn’t inspire the same kind of awe as Los Blancos and pundits everywhere started tipping Liverpool to cruise through to the knock-out stages of the competition. Well, as we found out during the scrappy 2-1 win over Ludogrets last night, this is going to be anything but an easy ride — a fact that doesn’t surprise Jordan Henderson one bit.
“We thought it would be difficult as there are no easy games in the Champions League,” said the Reds newly minuted vice-captain following the match. “It wasn’t easy at all and they made it difficult. We will learn a lot from it but the most important thing was three points. It is a little bit different. I thought the crowd were incredible and the atmosphere was brilliant but you just have to adapt as best you can.”
Last night there were nine players making their European debuts for the club and five making their Champions League bows — a testament to both both how young and unproven this squad really is. “You just have to play your own game and we did that at times but we can still be better” he continued, echoing Steven Gerrard’s calls for the side to raise their game. “Everybody is looking forward to the next game now and we’ve got to keep improving.”
