Liverpool 1-0 Beşiktaş

As expected the Reds started the first leg of the Europa League Round of 32 with early pressure and came close to getting on the scoresheet after four minutes, but Beşiktaş keeper Cenk stopped Sturridge’s shot from inside the 6-yard box with a brilliant save. The Eagles eventually settled down and had a couple of chances of their own. After Velik Kavlak’s header just missed the top corner of the net on 32 minutes, Mignolet just got a hand on Demba Ba’s low drive two minutes later. Despite a number of free-kicks from the home side, the first half ended goalless.
 
 
Liverpool continued to search for the winner in the second half but had to rely on dead balls because they were unable to break Beşiktaş’ solid defence. Nevertheless, an 84th-minute penalty from the sub Mario Balotelli sealed the victory for the Premier League outfit. The return match will be played at Istanbul Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium on 26 February 2015.