LIVERPOOL -- Steven Gerrard tipped Mario Balotelli to go on and score plenty of goals for Liverpool after he got off the mark in the 2-1 Champions League win over Ludogorets.
- Player Ratings: Liverpool leave it late
- Jolly: Liverpool's dramatic return to UCL
Liverpool captain Gerrard scored an injury-time winner from the penalty spot after Balotelli had opened the scoring.
The Italy international striker was a 16 million-pound summer signing from AC Milan and Gerrard was impressed by his work rate as he was by his well-taken goal.
He said: "I think it will be the first of many. I thought he worked his socks off. You look at strikers and sometimes when it is not going their way they sulk but he was relentless and he stayed in there and that one good chance which came his way he took and it was a great finish."
Gerrard accepted that Liverpool did not touch the heights with their display but believes it will take time for a team featuring five new signings to reach their peak.
He added: "We are very relieved. It was very important to start the competition off with maximum points. I don't think it was a very good performance from ourselves but we have managed to take the three points, which is vital.
"I think we will get better as the season progresses. We have a lot of new faces trying to find their feet and settle in and there is a lot of expectancy on us because of how well we performed last year but it will take time to get back to that level -- hopefully sooner rather than later. Sometimes you have to crawl before you can walk."
Right-back Javier Manquillo won the added-time penalty Gerrard scored and the 34-year-old singled out the youngster for praise.
He said: "He has done very well since he came in, not just tonight, but that is what type of defender he is: front foot, aggressive, very attacking, and he got rewarded tonight by being brave and ambitious even being down that end of the field -- a lot of full-backs would have been staying back trying to get a draw out of the game. He chased down a lost cause and we got rewarded for it."
Jordan Henderson has been named vice-captain after Daniel Agger left Anfield to join Brondby and skipper Gerrard applauded the choice of his new deputy.
"Very well deserved," he commented. "It is no surprise to me. I am sure he will be the main man and club captain in a few years when I've gone. He epitomises everything a captain is: he works hard, both on and off the pitch, is well liked in the dressing room, leads by example and let's not forget he is a top player as well."