Reds cut to qualify from group despite draw
Liverpool have been cut to 4-7 from 10-11 to qualify from Champions League Group B after they drew 2-2 away to Ludogorets and rivals Basle lost 1-0 against Real Madrid in Switzerland.
The night could not have got off to a worse start for the Reds as under-fire goalkeeper Simon Mignolet spilled a tame shot straight into the path of Dani Abalo, who was tipped to open the scoring at 18-1 in the Racing Post.
Goals from Rickie Lambert and Jordan Henderson seemed to have rescued the Reds, but a late equaliser from Georgi Terziev left Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers seething.
However, Liverpool will still qualify if they beat Basle at Anfield on matchday six.
Arsenal have qualified from Group D with a game to spare and have a chance of finishing top after goals from Yaya Sanogo and Alexis Sanchez gave them a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates Stadium.
Anderlecht won 2-0 in the other Group D contest, while Mario Mandzukic scored a hat-trick as Atletico Madrid beat Olympiakos 4-0 and Juventus beat Malmo 2-0 in Group A.
In Group C, Benfica were beaten 1-0 at Zenit and Monaco won 1-0 in Leverkusen.
Manchester City’s comeback win against Bayern Munich kept their Champions League qualification hopes alive.
Manuel Pellegrini’s men need to win at Roma on matchday six and also need Bayern to beat CSKA Moscow, who hold a head-to-head advantage over City.
City are 10-11 to reach the next round and 4-5 to fall short.
Coral go 15-8 that City and Liverpool join Arsenal and Chelsea in the knockout stages.