Make-or-break test for Liverpool

Brendan Rodgers faces arguably the biggest challenge of his career as Liverpool manager when he takes his ailing side to Bulgaria to face Ludogorets Razgrad in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Anything less than victory is likely to spell the end of five-time European champion Liverpool's hopes of qualifying for the last 16 of the continent's elite club soccer competition, barring a freakish set of other results.

Liverpool, runner-up in the Premier League last season, has struggled badly since the departure of star striker Luis Suarez, now with Spanish giant Barcelona. And its season hit a new low on Sunday as it suffered a 3-1 loss away to Crystal Palace - Liverpool's fourth straight defeat in all competitions - despite former Southampton striker Rickie Lambert giving it the lead with his first goal for the club.