Baloteli Gives Liverpool Slender Lead

…Liverpool's first win in six European games
…Balotelli scores his second goal in Europe for Reds

…Sturridge makes European debut for Liverpool
…Second leg on Thursday 26 February
Mario Balotelli scored a late penalty to give Liverpool a narrow Europa League lead over Besiktas despite a row over whether he should take the kick.

Liverpool were awarded the spot-kick in the first leg at Anfield after Jordon Ibe was fouled by Ramon Motta.

Balotelli and Jordan Henderson argued over who should step up to the spot before the Italy striker grabbed the ball and confidently converted.

Demba Ba went closest for Besiktas but saw his shot saved by Simon Mignolet.

Balotelli has endured a difficult time on Merseyside since his £16m move from Inter Milan last summer, and last month Liverpool Brendan Rodgers told him to lift his performances in training.

However, the 24-year-old appears to have turned something of a corner having now scored in consecutive home games for the Reds, even if the manner of his penalty winner provoked a dispute with his team-mates.

Liverpool thrashed Besiktas 8-0 at Anfield the last time the two sides met in a competitive European fixture in November 2007.

And with the Reds having lost just once – in extra time in the League Cup semi-final against Chelsea – since mid-December and rediscovering some of last season's swagger, hopes were high for another high-scoring game.

However, this Besiktas team – managed by former West Ham and Everton defender Slaven Bilic – proved substantially more stubborn opponents in the first leg of this last-32 tie than the side from 2007.

Indeed, the Turkish club were impressive in the group stage against Tottenham – winning 1-0 in Istanbul and drawing 1-1 at White Hart Lane – and only losing 1-0 over two legs to Arsenal in a Champions League qualifier.

Although Liverpool had the better of the chances they had to wait until the 85th minute to score, through Balotelli, who had come on to the pitch just after the hour mark.

Liverpool manager Rodgers said in the build-up to the tie that he wanted his players to show Europe the real Liverpool after their lacklustre displays in the Champions League which saw them knocked out after just one win in six group games.

Daniel Sturridge made his long-awaited European debut having missed the Champions League games with injury, and the England international's low shot from a tight angle was well saved by Cenk Gonen early on.

Ibe, who has reportedly been rewarded for his recent performances with a new five-year contract, caught the eye in the first half for the hosts with marauding runs down the right flank.

Besiktas striker Ba faced Liverpool for the first time since scoring for Chelsea last year in a win which damaged the Reds' title hopes.

Just after 30 minutes had elapsed the Turkish league's joint top scorer broke clear of the Liverpool defence and unleashed a low drive which brought a diving save out of Simon Mignolet at the Kop End.

Adam Lallana had a great chance shortly after the interval when Henderson's cross was spilled by Gonen, but the former Southampton midfielder side-footed over the crossbar from close range.

The impressive Ibe won the decisive penalty when he escaped past Motta but was bundled over and Balotelli, following an argument with Henderson and Sturridge, struck the spot-kick low past Gonen.

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