For Brendan Rodgers there was vindication of sorts.
The late twist in the tale left a bitter taste in Bordeaux but after the events of recent weeks this stalemate provided some welcome respite for the Liverpool manager.
Having risked another damaging setback by leaving out so many star names, Rodgers got the response he so desperately required from a shadow Reds line up.
Where there were no positives to cling to after such a wretched defeat at Old Trafford last weekend, this time there were plenty of reasons for the travelling Kop to raise a glass of the local claret.
BORDEAUX, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 17: Adam Lallana of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League match between FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Liverpool FC on September 17, 2015 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Adam Lallana’s classy individual strike put Liverpool on the brink of a morale-boosting triumph in their opening Europa League fixture.
However, some slack defending enabled substitute Jussie to restore parity late on.
A point from arguably their toughest game in Group B is not to be sniffed at, especially considering the personnel who achieved it.
Rookies can hold their heads high
There were three teenagers in the starting XI in Jordan Rossiter, Joe Gomez and Jordon Ibe, and another two followed off the bench as Academy duo Pedro Chirivella and Cameron Brannagan were handed their debuts.
For over an hour Liverpool played with a central midfield axis of Rossiter and Chirivella, and both rookies could hold their heads high as they showed composure beyond their years.
GALLERY: Reds in Bordeaux
Rossiter, especially, was outstanding as he worked tirelessly to close down space, flew into tackles and used the ball intelligently.
The 18-year-old from Everton Valley had vowed to take his chance in the absence of James Milner and Lucas Leiva and he was true to his word.
Lovren or Skrtel will surely miss out on Sunday
While Rossiter’s gutsy display offered real hope for the future, Mamadou Sakho delivered the kind of commanding defensive performance which makes him undroppable for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Norwich City at Anfield.
Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren may have been rested with one eye on that fixture but one of them will surely miss out after Sakho shone in his homeland.
The former Paris Saint Germain centre-back has waited patiently for his chance after being controversially overlooked in the opening month of the season.
Mamadou Sakho celebrates after Adam Lallana scores the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League match between FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Liverpool FC (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
In the absence of Jordan Henderson and James Milner, Sakho was handed the armband by Rodgers and he led by example throughout.
Only an extended run in the team is likely to convince Sakho to sign the new contract which is on the table, but considering Skrtel and Lovren’s erratic form so far this season the Frenchman has to be persevered with.
Sensing danger and dealing with it, Sakho looked like the kind of defensive leader Liverpool have been so sadly lacking so far this term.
A positive result in Europe does little to reduce the amount of pressure attached to the Norwich game on Sunday.
However, at least the Reds will approach it without a fresh torrent of negativity and with key players fully rested.
Game was a dogfight for long periods
Rodgers not only made eight changes to the side which lost to United but there was also a change of formation as he went back to the 3-4-2-1 system that successfully helped to drag Liverpool out of a slump last winter.
The Reds started brightly and could have led inside five minutes.
Emre Can, Divock Origi and Lallana combined to release Philippe Coutinho, who surged into space but dragged wastefully wide.
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Rodgers had talked before the game about Liverpool needing to rediscover their fluency and intensity but with such a makeshift line up that was always unlikely to happen here.
It was a dogfight for long periods with the Reds defending in numbers and then seeking to hit the hosts on the counter-attack.
BORDEAUX, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 17: Alberto Moreno of Liverpool competes with Eahbi Khazri of FC Girondins de Bordeaux during the UEFA Europa League match between FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Liverpool FC on September 17, 2015 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
One of the areas of weakness that opponents exploited in the spring before Rodgers ditched playing a three-man backline is the space left in behind the wing-backs.
And it was a similar story as Bordeaux threatened to take control.
There was a big let-off when Diego Rolan broke clear. Simon Mignolet raced out to meet him and the Uruguayan lifted his shot on to the roof of the net.
Kolo Toure was booked soon after for a foul on Wahbi Khazri and the veteran Ivorian’s night soon got worse. From the ensuing free-kick, a breakdown in communication saw Mignolet clumsily clatter into Toure and leave the defender writhing in agony on the turf.
After treatment, he hobbled back on but was clearly still in great discomfort with a dead leg.
Before the half hour mark Toure had to admit defeat and limped off.
Kolo Toure leaves the pitch with injury during the Europa League game between FC Girondins de Bordeaux and Liverpool FC at Matmut Atlantique Stadium on September 17, 2015 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Romain Perrocheau/Getty Images)
Chirivella, who joined the Reds from Valencia two years ago, came on in midfield with Can dropping into the back three.
Wahbi Khazri went close before Mignolet clung on to Henri Saivet’s deflected free-kick.
Khazri burst through a gaping hole but to the Reds’ relief he fired straight at Mignolet.
On the brink of half-time Liverpool countered and almost broke the deadlock. Coutinho’s sweet strike from 20 yards beat Cedric Carrasso but cannoned back off the post.
Lallana delivers overdue example of why Rodgers paid £25m for him
The second half brought more of the same with the Reds relatively comfortable but rarely threatening going forward with Origi struggling to impress.
Ibe appeared strangely reluctant to take his man on with the young winger looking short of confidence and so far unable to replicate the blistering form he produced in pre-season.
Bordeaux should have broken the deadlock in the 63 minute.
Nicolas Maurice-Belay looked destined to score after Gomez’s header from Rolan’s cross dropped kindly to him. But Mignolet made a crucial save with his feet and the rebound flew wide off Enzo Crivelli.
Liverpool take on FC Girondins de Bordeaux at the Nouveau Slate de Bordeaux stadium in the Europa League group B stage. Adam Lallana scores.
Two minutes later Liverpool led. When Lallana received possession from Moreno there appeared to be little on, but the England international expertly nut-megged Pablo and coolly rolled the ball into the far corner.
It was Luis Suarez-esque and a long overdue example of why Rodgers splashed out £25million to sign him.
Danny Ings replaced Origi and within seconds almost doubled the Reds’ account but Carrasso’s sprawling save denied him.
Rossiter, who had been cramping up, was replaced by Brannagan as Liverpool sought to hang on to their slender advantage.
It didn’t happen With nine minutes to go Enzo Crivelli was granted far too much time and space as he controlled Jussie’s pass inside the box.
Can belatedly poked it away from him but straight into the path of Jussie who finished emphatically.
The shine had been taken off the night but Rodgers had got what he came for.
MATCH FACTS
Bordeaux : Carrasso, Gajic (Guilbert 87), Pablo, Pallois, Poundje, Chantome, Maurice-Belay, Khazri (Jussie 69), Rolan, Saivet (Poko 76), Crivelli
Not used: Prior, Traore, Kiese Thelin, Yambere.
Liverpool : Mignolet, Gomez, Sakho, Toure (Chirivella 28), Moreno, Can, Rossiter (Brannagan 80), Ibe, Coutinho, Lallana, Origi (Ings 73).
Not used: Bogdan, Firmino, Randall, Cleary.
Referee : Alberto Undiano Mallenco (Spain)
Goals : Lallana 65, Jussie 81.
Bookings : Toure, Chantome.
Man of the match : Mamadou Sakho.
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/