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Mario Balotelli comes off the bench before converting penalty to break deadlock at Anfield


Substitute Balotelli struck the winner for the second time in three games after Jordon Ibe was brought down in the area, despite an apparent disagreement with stand-in skipper Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge over who would take the spot-kick.

A familiar face in Demba Ba had Besiktas’ best chance, going one-on-one with Simon Mignolet in the first half only for the Liverpool goalkeeper to tip his low effort wide, while Adam Lallana blasted over the hosts’ best opportunity from six yards in the second period.
Brendan Rodgers brought youngster Ibe into the starting line-up for his first European game, while striker Sturridge also ended his wait for a European appearance for the Reds.But Balotelli's late intervention - nine days after he came of the bench to score a crucial winner against Tottenham - means Liverpool will take a slender advantage to Istanbul for the return leg on Thursday, February 26.
And it was Ibe who fed Sturridge early on at the byline, only for the England striker to force Cenk Gonen into a good save at his near post after a clever turn at the byline. 

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