CAPTAIN Steven Gerrard conceded Liverpool had "a lot to learn" after a battling 2-1 win over Ludogorets in their first Champions League game for five years.

Mario Balotelli got his first goal for the Reds after 82 minutes of toil but the Bulgarians equalised in the last minute of normal time to silence Anfield.

Gerrard then netted a penalty in time added on - after Javi Manquillo was brought down in the box - to hand Liverpool all three points despite a shaky start to their Group B campaign.

"Looking at the game as a whole, we did okay, but we didn't do better than okay," Gerrard said after the final whistle.

"We have a lot to learn. I thought they caused us quite a few problems on the counter attack, just like Aston Villa did at the weekend, so there's a lot for myself and the lads here to learn.

"We took maximum points, and we go away to Basel next. If we can get another maximum points return there it will put us in a very good position.

"The key was always going to be three points before the performance. But at Liverpool we always analyse how we have done and the verdict on that performance is, 'must do better'."

If there was relief in Liverpool, there was disappointment in London as Arsenal lost 2-0 away to Borussia Dortmund.

Ciro Immobile and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck either side of half-time and the German club would have been more emphatic victors but for the reflexes of Wojciech Szczesny and their own wastefulness.

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta said: "It was very sloppy from us to concede the goal with 20 seconds to go in the first half from a long throw from the other side of the pitch. After you are 1-0 down, it's very difficult.

"They're very quick on the break and we didn't perform well enough.

"They put a lot of pace and a lot of pressure up front. We couldn't cope with that and we gave the ball away too many times in our own half in difficult positions."

Danny Welbeck again illustrated why his finishing is considered below par for a top forward by failing to convert a one-on-one.

With the match goalless and Arsenal under relentless attack, Welbeck managed to drag Aaron Ramsey's pass wide with just Roman Weidenfeller to beat.

It was a key moment and the £16million signing from Manchester United, who had other chances to open his Gunners account, only added to concerns over his record in front of goal.