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LIVERPOOL. – Captain Steven Gerrard said Liverpool must improve to progress in the Champions League after they needed his late penalty to beat Ludogorets 2-1.
The 2005 winners looked set to drop points against the Group B underdogs when Dani Abalo cancelled out Mario Balotelli’s opener in stoppage time.

But Gerrard’s spot-kick secured victory for Liverpool, who visit Basel next before a home tie against Real Madrid.

“We did OK but it wasn’t better than OK,” he said.

“There’s a lot to learn.”

Gerrard acknowledged Liverpool were caused problems on the counter-attack in their first match in the Champions League since 2009.

But he praised striker Mario Balotelli after the £16m summer signing from AC Milan scored his first goal for the club against the Bulgarian champions.

With eight minutes left, the Italian controlled the ball and turned in a single movement before steering it into the net with the outside of his right foot.

Gerrard said: “You have to give Mario credit. It didn’t go his way for long periods but the sign of a good goalscorer is to keep going and get a chance.

“If we win in Basel now it puts us in a good position but we must do better.”

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers also acknowledged his team need to recapture their best form after a patchy start to the season.

The Reds, who secured their return to the Champions League by finishing second in the Premier League in 2013-14, have lost twice in the first month of the campaign – to Manchester City and Aston Villa.

“We are not yet at the level we were last season but we will get there,” said Rodgers. “It was a great night in the end because we won.

“Ludogorets played very well. They are a very good side and to get the win was very important.”

Rodgers hailed Liverpool’s fighting qualities after they overcame a huge fright to make a winning Champions League return. But while he was delighted to get Group B off to a winning start, Rodgers admitted there was significant room for improvement in the quality of Liverpool’s performance.

“If you can win your home games and pick up points away from home, it gives you a chance,” said Rodgers.

“We are not at the standard we were last season. We have a lot of players who have come in and are still adapting. We are a work in progress.-BBC Sport-Mailonline.