Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Europa League group-stage meeting between Bordeaux and Liverpool. European football's secondary competition returns this evening with an array of intriguing fixtures, including this well-balanced clash in South-West France.

It has been a slow start to the campaign for both, with Bordeaux winning one of their opening five league games, while visitors Liverpool have failed to win in any of their last three. A chance to kick off their respective European campaigns on a high note is on the line here this evening, so let's check out some team news.

TEAM NEWS!

BORDEAUX XI: Carrasso; Gajic, Pablo, Pallois, Poundje; Chantome, Maurice-Belay, Khazri, Saivet; Rolan, Crivelli

LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet; Gomez, Toure, Sakho, Moreno; Rossiter, Can, Ibe, Lallana, Coutinho; Origi

A whopping eight changes made by visiting boss Brendan Rodgers, who left an array of his star players home for this Europa League opener. Christian Benteke, Martin Skrtel, Dejan Lovren, James Milner, Lucas Leiva and Nathaniel Clyne all remained on Merseyside, making this very much a second-string Reds side.

A chance for certain fringe players to show their worth nonetheless, and one the back of what has been a disappointing start to the campaign overall, an opportunity to really stake a claim for a place in the side ahead of this weekend's visit of Norwich City.

Divock Origi in particular can win over his manager with a positive display this evening, where he will feature against Bordeaux for the fifth time in his career. The worrying thing for the Belgian forward, however, is that he has failed to find the net in those previous four outings during his time at Lille.

Another of those to profit from the first-team overhaul for this Group B clash is Mamadou Sakho, who starts at the back and captains Liverpool this evening. It will also be a big occasion for 18-year-old Jordan Rossiter, placed alongside the fit-again Adam Lallana in what is otherwise a strong-looking midfield.

BENCH WATCH!

BORDEAUX SUBS: Traore, Thelin, Poko, Vieira, Yambere, Guilbert, Prior

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Bogdan, Firmino, Ings, Brannagan, Randall, Cleary, Chirivella

The big-name inclusion as far as Liverpool's subs are concerned is that of Roberto Firmino, who provides the Reds with the additional quality from the bench should they be chasing the game at any stage. Danny Ings, too, will be desperate to impress following his maiden start of the season at Old Trafford last time out.

I mentioned a little earlier that Rodgers is already under a pressure following three games without a win, but to put that in some context it is the last two defeats - coming either side of the international break - which have been particularly tough to take. It all started so well, with two wins and a draw away at Arsenal getting Liverpool off to a decent enough start.

A 3-0 thrashing at home to West Ham United and the equally disappointing 3-1 reverse at rivals Manchester United last time out have left Liverpool down in 10th place, while opponents Bordeaux have also made a slow start. The Ligue 1 side have won just one of their opening five games, but they did hold Paris Saint-Germain to a 2-2 draw in their last match - thanks in part to some comical goalkeeping.

DID YOU KNOW? Liverpool have won each of their last five opening games in European competition. They come up against a Bordeaux side who have battled hard to even reach this stage, meanwhile, having made tough work of Kairat in the qualifying rounds.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Liverpool won both group-stage encounters when these sides last met in Europe. That was back in the 2006-07 Champions League when the Reds went all the way, only to lose to AC Milan in a repeat of the 2005 final.

Right, kickoff at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux is now just a few minutes away so it's time to offer a pre-match prediction. Both sides have made stuttering starts to their respective campaigns, but the onus really is on Liverpool to pick up all three points here today. That said, their opponents have lost just once in their last 15 home matches, meaning a draw is the most likely outcome. 2-2.

A 100th appearance in the colours of Liverpool for Simon Mignolet this evening - one of just three survivors from last weekend's defeat at Old Trafford.

Congratulations to @SMignolet, who makes his 100th #LFC appearance tonight pic.twitter.com/9aPs2x3t4P — Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 17, 2015

KICKOFF! We are underway at the Stade Chaban-Delmas in South-West France. A much-changed Liverpool are in desperate need of some early-season momentum, but they come up against a Bordeaux side who themselves are suffering domestically so far.

A free kick close to the touchline provides Khazri with a decent early chance to swing the ball into the area, but his delivery fails to even make it as far as the 18-yard box.

SHOT! The first opening of the evening falls Liverpool's way, with Coutinho - one of the eight new faces in this starting lineup - shooting a yard or so wide of goal. The Brazilian was given time and space to get an effort away on the edge of the box, but playing in Moreno may have been a better option in hindsight.

Promising enough start for Liverpool, then, yet other than that Coutinho opening there has not been a great deal of action in either attacking third thus far.

The visitors still well on top of possession, preventing Bordeaux from working the ball out of their own half. The Reds' attacking players also seem to have plenty of space to run into, so an early goal may be on the cards at this rate.

CLOSE! This game has just burst well into life with chances at both ends. First, Emre Can saw his spectacular overhead kick dealt with easily enough by Carrasso, before the hosts attacked straight up the other end and came close through Rolan. But the striker could only find the roof of the net when up against a quick-off-the-mark Mignolet.

YELLOW CARD! Toure, on what is his first start of the campaign, is already walking a tightrope. Khazri's pace proved too much for the centre-back, who simply put out a foot to halt his opponent's run.

A brief stoppage in play as Toure, on that yellow card, receives some treatment on the field. Prior to picking up the knock, the ex-Manchester City defender headed away a simple cross that was destined for Mignolet's hands. Not his finest few minutes.

Toure's knock does cause for concerns for Rodgers, who may be forced to shuffle his pack slightly. Can has dropped into a back three for the time being, but the Ivory Coast international may just be able to shake off his injury problem.

Ibe stretches his legs for the first time, before being halted in his tracks. A decent chance for the youngster to really nail down a starting spot this evening. Incidentally, Toure is back on the field of play and moving around freely enough.

CLOSE! Some slack defending from Ibe leaves Bordeaux in a promising attacking position for the second time in the space of 10 minutes. It was Rolan again who fired away the shot, curling over from Maurice-Belay's cut-back in a decent position.

Bordeaux have been the better side over the past 10 minutes, threatening their opponents a couple of times either side of that Toure injury. It is by no means one-sided, however, with Liverpool also looking as though they have a couple of goals in them this evening.

Can works himself a yard or so around 25 yards from goal, but his effort was never likely to test Carrasso as it was always rising. A well-balanced game on our hands at the moment, yet it remains goalless.

Origi gets in behind the Les Girondins backline for the first time, only to drag his shot horribly wide when through on goal. The offside flag eventually went up to save the stand-in striker's blushes.

LIVERPOOL SUB! That leg injury picked up by Toure a little earlier proved too much to shake off. The centre-back, on what was his first start since the 6-0 defeat at Stoke in May, has been replaced by senior debutant Pedro Chirivella.

This contest has yet to see a goal but it has certainly not been boring. The two sides are currently matching each other all over the pitch, seemingly taking it in turns to carve out half-chances.

We've endured a quiet spell over the past few minutes, but Bordeaux have just won themselves a free kick right on the edge of the Liverpool box. This could provide a decent chance to test Mignolet on his 100th Reds appearance.

SAVE! The free kick is indeed on target, and it took a nasty deflection on its way through to make things all the more difficult for Mignolet. Henri Saivet's effort was dealt with easily enough down low by the Liverpool stopper, though, who managed to hold onto the ball as an added bonus.

Lallana picks up the ball on the edge of the box, but his pass into the path of Coutinho, who was placed just ahead of him, had a little too much on it. Frustrating for Liverpool, yet they managed to earn a corner kick which ultimately came to nothing.

YELLOW CARD! Chantome fouls young Rossiter to earn himself the game's second booking. From the set piece Liverpool almost managed to create a decent chance, but two players made an identical run at the front post.

A contest of few clear-cut chances, it must be said:

Neither Liverpool or Bordeaux have managed a shot on target in the opening 30 minutes. pic.twitter.com/x8o2l47zWt

— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 17, 2015

Just a few minutes left of this first half, which has got progressively quieter. A simple ball over the top allows Diego Rolan to get a shot away, which again is fired well over the bar.

Lallana is played in behind, with only a couple of Bordeaux defenders back to provide cover. The midfielder just seemed to take too long on the ball before deciding what he was going to do, allowing Pablo to end the dangerous attack.

SHOT! A simple run from Wahbi Khazri proves too much for Liverpool's defence, who just seemed to move apart. The shot was right down the throat of Mignolet, however, and the Reds can breath a huge sigh of relief.

OFF THE POST! So, so unlucky from Coutinho. The Brazilian loves these long-range belters, the latest of which comes crashing back off the upright. That's pretty much the closest we have come to a first-half breakthrough.

So a goalless first half in France and, while it has hardly been a classic affair, it has certainly had its moments. The best opening from Liverpool's point of view came in the closing stages, as Coutinho's long-drive drive came crashing back off the post.

Liverpool have had just the one shot on goal - Can's overhead kick which was simple enough for Carrasso to handle. In terms of the visitors they have had two attempts on goal, both of which came in the final 15 minutes of the half. Henri Saivet's attempt asked little question of Mignolet between the sticks, while Wahbi Khazri's shot also lacked precision.

Liverpool also had a penalty appeal turned down when Ibe went down inside the area, but it would have been a hard decision had it been awarded. Other than that, both sides have had to make do with minimal openings, meaning that it is all well set up for a decent second half.

UPDATE! Liverpool are one of three British sides in action on the continent this evening, with Celtic currently leading Ajax in Amsterdam and Tottenham Hotspur preparing to face off against Qarabag FK. There is one other surprise half-time score to bring you, too, as competition favourites Borussia Dortmund are being held 1-1 by Krasnador of Russia.

In terms of the visiting side's options from the bench, they can still call upon Roberto Firmino and Danny Ings in this second half. Rodgers has his hands tied somewhat, however, due to the replacement of injured defender Kolo Toure in the first half. That forced the Ulsterman to bring on Pedro Chirivella far earlier than he would have hoped.

RESTART! We are back underway at the Stade Chaban-Delmas. Can one of these sides take the game by the scruff of the neck following a goalless opening 45 minutes?

After an initial step-up in tempo from Liverpool, we are now back into the same slow pace. It would be wrong to criticise the Reds for their display so far, because they have been on top for large parts, but they really need to assert their dominance.

The longer this one remains at 0-0, the more the question is asked - when will we see Ings and/ or Firmino? Some smart ideas from the Reds in these opening five minutes of the second half, with nothing quite coming off.

It is very sloppy again all of a sudden, as both sides continue to struggle carving out a decent chance of note. We are fast approaching the hour mark, so hopefully some changes are in the pipeline.

Liverpool are trying their best to get Coutinho on the ball, because he is the one man on the field who can of course make a difference in the attacking third. No such luck so far, however, with the Brazilian's strike at the end of the first half the closest we have come to a breakthrough.

There has been an incredible amount of stray passes over the past couple of minutes, while the tempo is still not quite there. Still yet to see a shot of any sort during this second period.

SHOT! Enzo Crivelli somehow avoids a caution for his rash challenge on Can. Lallana has just fired a shot on goal, meanwhile, which again is struck too close to Carrasso, who deals with it well enough.

CLOSE! I was just about to say that was much better from Liverpool, but since then momentum has swung Bordeaux's way. Les Girondins charged up the other end to win a corner, which Saivet headed into the side-netting. Certain parts of the ground thought that was a goal.

Rossiter, perhaps growing in confidence an hour into this European clash, fires a shot goalwards right into the path of Carrasso. Still no signs of any movement on either bench, which is highly surprising.

CHANCE! An incredible chance goes begging for the home side. Nicolas Maurice-Belay picked up the ball at the back post, forcing a decent save out of Mignolet, but the ball fell into the path of Crivelli just a few yards from goal. The Bordeaux man could not adjust himself, however, with the ball deflecting off his body and rolling past the goal.

Well the opening 15 minutes of this second half provided little hope for the remainder, but since then it has well and truly opened up. The opener could have gone either way, but it is Liverpool who have bagged it through Adam Lallana. It was a decent strike, too, with the ex-Southampton man dancing past Pablo and tucking into the far corner.

Coutinho has looked lively in spells, yet it was his midfield partner Lallana who made the breakthrough for Liverpool.

PHOTO: @Phil_Coutinho in action in Bordeaux #LFC pic.twitter.com/M7WpkARkUL — Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 17, 2015

BORDEAUX SUB: Wahbi Khazri, who has looked promising for the home side, is replaced by Jussie for these final 20 minutes or so.

Liverpool very much on top now, as Ibe looks to square the ball for Origi in a central position, but the ball was well cut out before it reached its intended target.

LIVERPOOL SUB! Origi's underwhelming evening comes to a close, with Danny Ings given a chance to impress in these final stages.

SAVE! So nearly a superb goal from Ings, just 60 seconds after being introduced. The summer signing brought down a long ball inside the area with a fine first touch, allowing him to get away a shot in a similar position to Lallana a little earlier, but it was too close to Carrasso.

SHOT! Its Enzo Crivelli's turn to come close to scoring the game's second goal, but his hooked volley from the edge of the box is collected by Mignolet. The Belgian has not been tested near as much as he should have been so far today.

Can's scuffed clearance causes a bit of panic before eventually landing in the side-netting, but the hosts are unable to capitalise from the resulting corner. Just over 10 minutes to go in this one, and it is now well alive at both ends.

LIVERPOOL SUB! Rossiter has been cramping up over the past few minutes, so he is unsurprisingly taken off. One youngster is replaced by another, as Cameron Brannagan comes on for the last nine minutes.

We are all square at the Stade Chaban-Delmas once again, and it is the substitute who levels things up. Liverpool's defence just could not clear the danger, with the ball eventually finding its way to Jesse inside the box. It was struck sweetly into the top corner, leaving Mignolet with little chance.

This game remains incredibly open in these closing stages, and I would not be surprised to see a late winner. Up one end, Alberto Moreno gets in a shot that Carrasso again barely breaks a sweat to collect, while up the other a header back across the box leaves Liverpool scrambling.

BORDEAUX SUB! Milan Gajic is replaced by Frederic Guilbert in the home side's final alteration. Will there be a late twist in France?

Bordeaux were so nearly in yet again, but a miscontrolled first touch lets Liverpool off. Les Girondins then won themselves a corner, which was heading for the back of the net if not for Mignolet's intervention at the front post to punch away.

Three minutes added on in France. Liverpool are the side who want full time right now, with Mignolet screaming instructions to his teammates to slow the temp.

The ball is almost exclusively inside Liverpool's half, yet Bordeaux just cannot quite carve out one more late chance. Time is fast running out.

The full-time whistle sounds at the Stade Chaban-Delmas, ensuring that both sides take a point apiece. It is not the worst result for either in this opening Group A encounter, with Liverpool in particular happy to see the end of the contest.

While the contest lacked real quality in the attacking third for large parts, Adam Lallana's strike to break the deadlock sparked the contest will into life. Liverpool were in control for a few minutes, before Les Girondins stole back control and levelled up through substitute Jussie.

Well that brings to an end Sports Mole's live text coverage from this evening's contest in France, but there is more British involvement still to come on the continent as Tottenham Hotspur take on Qarabag FK at White Hart Lane. Live coverage of that one cane be found right here.