Liverpool vs Augsburg player ratings: Was James Milner the star man as Liverpool progressed?

Milner's early penalty was enough for Liverpool to win

Liverpool booked their place in the last 16 of the Europa League with a narrow victory over Augsburg at Anfield courtesy of a first-half penalty from captain James Milner.

Milner gave Liverpool an early lead after referee Clément Turpin awarded the Reds a spot kick after Domink Kohr was adjudged to have handled the ball from a corner.

Liverpool should have added further goals but a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal and some instinctive and smart saves from Marwin Hitz in the Augsburg goal ensued a tense finish for the Anfield faithful.

Konstantinos Stafylidis was inches away from taking Augsburg through in the final few minutes as his free kick went perilously close with Simon Mignolet beaten in the Liverpool goal.

The visitors hardly threatened throughout the 90 minutes despite looking comfortable on the ball in their brief spells of possession.

Liverpool will now turn their attentions to the Capital One Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday.