Liverpool and Ludogorets are playing live on the UEFA Champions League group schedule and the match from Anfield starts up at 2:45 pm ET on Fox Sports 1 and has Mario Balotelli and the Reds back in the UEFA tournament for the first time in years and they are playing on the same day as the defending champs in Real Madrid along with EPL club Arsenal.
Liverpool had a strong season last year in the Premier League and made it back to the Champions League for the first time in years after making it into the top four. The team had the chance to win the EPL title, but they couldn't take care of business against Manchester City and they ended up on top of the Premier League table. Chelsea and Arsenal are the other teams from the Premier League that qualified and the Gunners were able to make it through the playoffs and into the group stage. Liverpool was one of the highest scoring teams in the league last season, but that wasn't enough.
Brendan Rodgers and the Reds have been though some major changes since last season and that includes the loss of Luis Suarez. The team was happy to see him go after the biting incident in the World Cup, but he also was the best player in the EPL last year and won nearly every award while leading the league in scoring. Suarez is now with Barcelona and the team made moves of their own, bringing in Mario Balotelli from AC Milan and now he will get the chance to make an impact alongside Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling.
Liverpool comes into the week at eighth on the English Premier League table and they have this matchup at Anfield before they play against West Ham on the road and then they will return home to play against Everton. The EPL schedule coming up has some tough games and after playing QPR the team has some looming matchups with Man United at Old Trafford as well as Arsenal and that will also be at Anfield.
Rodgers said that the Reds will not underestimate Ludogorets and that they will treat them like one of the top teams in the UCL. The team does not have the history or pedigree of Liverpool and now they will kick off Group B at home and they have the chance to start off with a nice performance. Liverpool has not been in the Champions League since losing back in 2009 and that was in the group stage. The team ended up in second in the EPL and now Balotelli and Liverpool will be looking to start fast and strong.