Mario Balotelli scored an 85th minutes penalty to give Liverpool a 1-0 first leg win over Besiktas in their round of 32 Europa League clash.
The home side started well with Daniel Sturridge testing the palms of Cenk Gonen early on with a tight angled effort.
Brendan Rodgers’s side continued to press and they came close once more through Sturridge, who looked lively.
The visitors did spring into life midway through the half when Demba Ba looked to haunt Liverpool once more, but his placed effort was saved well by Simon Mignolet.
Jordan Henderson would then come close on the stroke of half time with a free-kick which just went wide of the post.
Slaven Bilic’s side came out the better in the second half by Martin Skrtel was on hand to deny Ba, blocking his goal bound effort.
With the clock running out, the impressive Jordan Ibe was fouled in the area by Motta Ramon, which led to substitute Mario Balotelli scoring the winner from the spot.