Cup holders Liverpool progress despite defeat

Liverpool 0 CSKA Sofia 1 (3-2 Liverpool on agg)

Liverpool suffered the acute embarrassment of a shock defeat as they crawled into the Champions League group stages.

Anfield breathed a collective sign of relief as an under-strengthen Liverpool were run ragged by Sofia, who took a 15th-minute lead through Valentin Iliev and threatened throughout to extend that lead.

Had they done so, Liverpool’s seemingly solid lead from the first leg would have been eroded and the holders could have been on their way out.

But the visitors were unable to score again and Liverpool reach the Champions League group stages, with the draw being made on Thursday.