Bordeaux 1 - Liverpool 1: Young guns shine in France as Lallana relieves Rodgers pressure

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers hailed the performance of his young players in the draw to Bordeaux

BRENDAN RODGERS hailed Liverpool's young guns as they eased the pressure on the Kop boss in Bordeaux.

 

Adam Lallana netted the opener for the Reds in France before Jussie equalised for the home side.

But while it was far from a vintage display in an area renowned for fine wine, Rodgers took solace in the performances of starlets such as Jordan Rossiter and Pedro Chirivella.

 

He said: "I am so proud of the young ones.

"I will always give young ones a chance - and the question is do you let them out on loan or put them under that pressure?

"For Jordan Rossiter and young Pedro to go in they did fantastic and as game went on they did better, so it was invaluable experience and they acquitted themselves well."

 

Adam Lallana celebrating giving Liverpool the lead against Bordeaux in the Europa League

After back-to-back Premier League defeats by West Ham and Manchester United, Rodgers was starting to feel the heat.

But he still gambled by leaving senior stars out of his squad for this Europa League opener and it almost backfired.

Bordeaux and the Europa League seem a long way from travelling to Real Madrid last season on the back of almost winning the Premier League.

But it could have been a lot worse if the Ligue 1 had put away their chances amid first-half dominance before Rodgers' youngsters found their feet.

Teenager Joe Gomez was at fault for an early chance for the hosts when Diego Rolan got in behind but lifted the ball over.

 

Jordan Rossiter put on an impressive display which Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers hailed

Liverpool were off the pace in the first half - just like they were against United on Saturday - and allowed Wahbi Khazri waltz through before he shot feebly at Simon Mignolet.

Philippe Coutinho then shot from distance and it cracked the post, but it would have been an unfair lead if it had of found its way home.

But Rossiter, on his European debut, and Chirivella, who replaced the injured Kolo Toure early in the opening half to make his full debut, got a foothold in the game after the break.

The impressive teenage duo looked more at ease than some of their more senior counterparts as Lallana wasted an early second-half chance.

There was still some defensive frailties though and Nicolas Maurice Belay fired straight at Mignolet before Enzo Crivelli failed to control the rebound with the goal at his mercy.

  

Bordeaux's Jussie (left) equalised to restore parity in the Europa League

But Lallana showed a glimpse of the class that made Liverpool pay £25m for him from Southampton 12 months ago when he cruised into the Bordeaux area and curled home in the 66th minute.

Liverpool looked like they might hold on with France international Mamadou Sakho impressing at the back.

But Emre Can, who was shifted into defence when Toure went off, failed to clear in the 82nd minute and Jussie blasted home.

Liverpool may not have come out on top but a draw away at the toughest team in their group ahead of Norwich on Sunday will give Rodgers some breathing space.

The Reds boss added: "In European football a point is never bad, we want to win them all but a lot of groups are decided by home games."

Bordeaux (4-1-3-2): Carrasso; Gajic (Guilbert 87), Pablo, Pallois, Poundje; Chantome; Saivet (Poko 76), Khazri (Jussie 69), Maurice-Belay; Rolan, Crivelli.

Subs: Prior, Yambere, Traore, Kiese Thelin.

Liverpool (3-4-2-1): Mignolet; Gomez, Toure (Chirivella 28), Sakho; Ibe, Rossiter (Brannagan 80), Can, Moreno; Coutinho, Lallana; Origi (Ings 73).

Subs: Bogdan, Firmino, Randall, Cleary.

Referee: Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)