Dejan Lovren misses crucial penalty as Liverpool bow out

Besiktas booked their place in the last 16 of the Europa League following a penalty shootout victory over Liverpool in their round-of-32 second-leg clash at the Ataturk Stadium.

The Reds, returning to the scene of their 2005 Champions League final triumph, came into the game with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg following Mario Balotelli’s penalty at Anfield last week.

But despite the onus being on Besiktas to come forward and get the opening goal, it was Liverpool who looked the more like scoring throughout the first half as Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge both came close.

The home team came out after the break a different team, however, and following a sustained period of pressure, they were finally rewarded in the 72nd minute as substitute Tolgay Arslan picked out the top corner from distance with a fine finish.

With momentum on their side Besiktas could have won it at the death before the full-time whistle, only for Demba Ba to smash against the bar from five yards out, meaning extra-time beckoned.

Neither team were able to create anything of note in a tense and tight final 30 minutes, before Besiktas eventually emerged victorious 5-4 in the penalty shoot-out, with Dejan Lovren the only player to miss - firing over the bar when he had to score.

20 – GOOD SAVE! A first chance for Liverpool as Moreno does well to get down the left, before picking out Sterling on the edge of the box, who then brings out a save from Gonen with a strike from distance.

30 – OFF TARGET! Liverpool earn a corner - Skrtel arrives to get his head on it, but he fires his effort over when he probably should have done better and hit the target.

33 – BESIKTAS MISTAKE! What a chance for Liverpool as Balotelli takes advantage of a Besiktas mistake and plays in Sturridge. The striker, though, seems to take too long before shooting, but does eventually bring a good stop out of Gonen.

42 – MIGNOLET ALERT! Besiktas finally wake up and mount their first attack for some time as Sahan cuts in from the left and has a dig, but Mignolet does well to palm the ball away.

63 – DOMINANT BESIKTAS! Besiktas continue to come forward as Tore cuts in from the left before curling an effort just over the bar. Of all the home side's recent long-distance efforts, that looked the closest.

70 – MIGNOLET SCRAMBLING! Another strike from distance for as Arslan has a pop from 30 yards out, with his effort whistling just past the post. Mignolet looked beaten there.

72 – GOAL! Besiktas 1-0 Liverpool. Arslan this time finds the back of the net with a strike from the edge of the box and what a lovely finish it was. The substitute receives the ball from Ba after some good work from Tore, before curling it into the top corner.

90+2 – OFF THE BAR! Unbelievable as the ball falls at the feet of Ba following a corner, but the striker can only fire against the bar from five yards out. He had to score there.

100 – BA AGAIN! Ba comes closer than anyone to scoring in extra-time as he receives the ball in the box, but he is unable to find a way past Mignolet in goal.

SHOOTOUT – LOVREN SKIES IT! After nine near-perfect penalties, the former Southampton man balloons his effort into the stands. Liverpool are out!

Besiktas have faced English opposition six times this season, playing Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool twice. They have now won two of those – against Tottenham and Liverpool.

Liverpool have picked up their second loss in 19 games – their 1-0 Capital One Cup semi-final second-leg loss to Chelsea was the other defeat.

Defeat a blessing in disguise for Liverpool? While Liverpool will be disappointed to be knocked out of the Europa League, especially given that it offers the winners a place in the Champions League, perhaps it is not the worst thing to happen to them. An FA Cup quarter-final against Blackburn is looming and provides a real opportunity of a place in the final four, while their top-four charge has never looked so strong. Should the Reds end the season with the FA Cup and Champions League qualification then it will be mission accomplished, but one that may have been jeopardised by the extra games that the Europa League brings with it.

Gokhan Tore (Besiktas): An excellent performance from the Besiktas wide man, who passed a late fitness test ahead of the game. As the home side started to dominate from half-time he proved key, with his runs down the left and crosses into the box a constant threat. Played his part in the goal and also converted a penalty in the shoot-out.

Besiktas: Gonen 7, Kurtulus 6, Necip Uysal 7, Franco 6, Opare 7, Veli Kavlak 7, Hutchinson 6, Tore 8, Sosa 5, Sahan 8, Ba 8. Subs: Arslan 8, Koyunlu 7.

Liverpool: Mignolet 7, Toure 6, Skrtel 7, Lovren 5, Can 6, Allen 6, Moreno 5, Ibe 5, Sterling 6, Balotelli 5, Sturridge 6. Subs: Manquillo 6, Lallana 7, Lambert 6.