Liverpool - Ludogorets Betting Preview: Reds may falter again at Anfield.

The Reds make their return to the Champions League on Tuesday but Jim Knight thinks their Bulgarian opposition will prove to be a stern test for Brendan Rodgers' side.

Liverpool may not have appeared in the Champions League since 2009, but the bookmakers expect them to make light work of Ludogorets at Anfield on their return to the competition.

Brendan Rodgers' side looked fairly toothless in their 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday night, although Paddy Power still make them 2/9 (1.22) to get three points against the Bulgarian champions on Tuesday in front of a passionate Anfield crowd who will be sure to make themselves heard.

Ludogorets fans have already had their fair share of drama in the competition, sealing their place in the group stages courtesy of an extraordinary comeback against Steaua Bucharest.

A last minute equaliser forced extra time before centre-back Cosmin Moti - who stepped up after first choice goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov was sent off in the closing stages - saved two penalties in a shootout to send his side through.

The visitors, who will field their third choice goalkeeper Georgi Argilashki at Anfield, are available at 11/1 (12.0) to make it back-to-back defeats for the Reds and the draw trades at 11/2 (6.50).

While Mario Balotelli's summer transfer grabbed plenty of headlines, it was the absence of Daniel Strurridge that was keenly felt in Saturday's defeat - and the 25-year-old will remain sidelines for at least two more weeks, leaving Rodgers without his main talisman for this game.

Balotelli cut a frustrated figure at Anfield but is the 3/1 (4.00) favourite to open the scoring in Tuesday's clash with another summer signing, Rickie Lambert, available at 4/1 (5.0) to break the deadlock.

Ludogorets' rise to Europe's elite club competition has been a relatively swift one after the team was founded in 2001. Kiril Domuschiev's purchase in 2010 gave the club significant financial impetus and they reached the last-16 of the Europa League last season, beating the likes of PSV Eindhoven, Dinamo Zagreb and Lazio en route.

Although the Champions League represents a huge step up in class for the visitors they should not be underestimated by punters, especially as Brendan Rodgers comes to terms with juggling Champions League commitments while maintaining a Premier League title challenge.

Paddy Power offer 11/10 (2.10) on Ludogorets in the +2 European handicap market, a bet that would be settled as a winner unless Liverpool triumph by a margin of two goals or more.

Even with the return of the rested Raheem Sterling - whose performances have been the highlight of the Reds' season so far - given how disjointed the home side appeared in their last game as they look to integrate a number of new faces, it could pay to side with the underdogs on the handicap as Liverpool find their feet on the European stage after five years away.