Liverpool FC News: Reds Boss Brendan Rodgers Still Optimistic For Season

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers still believes that his side will still be able to make something out of their current campaign despite failing to live up to expectations.

The Reds have yet again failed to secure a victory in the Champions League by giving up a goal at the 88th minute, ending the match 2-2 opposite Ludogorets. Nevertheless, the Irishman still believes that it was a jumpstart that his squad just needed.

"To go a goal behind so early on, you really need a team that is together and I think the character of the team came out," said Rodgers.

"We spoke before the game that this needs to be the night to change our season and for that we needed to show the character in our team. We are disappointed with the goal we conceded in the end but it is irrelevant, we need to beat Basel in the final game."

The Merseysiders' chance of making it to the second round will depend on their fixture against Basel in their final match, only trailing the second-placed Swiss club by two points.

"It was very frustrating at the end but we needed to come and put on a performance to encourage us going forward and one that gave us a chance of qualifying from the group and we had both of them," he added.

"The reaction to going behind was fantastic and we saw the real character of the team. We fell behind to a team that has been really strong at home in the Champions League and showed real spirit to come from behind. Of course, it is frustrating at the end because we had defended so well.

"It could have been three- or four-one but I said at the start that this group would come down to the last game. To have the last game at Anfield, in front of our own supporters, needing to win: I would have taken that at the start."

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