Liverpool lose Besiktas shootout... with the best penalty taker in EUROPE having been subbed
Dejan Lovren blasted over the crossbar for the Anfield giants in Istanbul, but the answer to their spot kick woes was watching from the sidelines
Liverpool crashed out of the Europa League on penalties, thanks in no small part to Dejan Lovren's kick which may well still be in orbit.
All nine penalties found the back of the net in some style before the big Croatian's miss, which sent Besiktas through to the next round.
However, according to this research, Brendan Rodgers' substitution of a certain Italian may well have cost his side a place in the last 16.
Mario Balotelli was largely unimpressive, and on a booking, so it is difficult to be too critical of the Northern Irishman for taking him off.
However, if it had been the former Manchester City man who had the all important penalty, the chances are, the net would have been rippling once more.
The study by Spanish newspaper Diario AS has taken into account all players playing in Europe's top leagues, and their penalty taking record for club and country.
The only requisite is that they must have taken at least 30 penalties, which discounts Balotelli's Liverpool team-mate Rickie Lambert, as several of his spot kicks were in the lower leagues.
The Italian does indeed top the list, and Lionel Messi, who missed a penalty against City earlier this week, isn't even in the top 10.