LONDON - Liverpool have reached last chance saloon in the Champions League and only victory against Swiss champions FC Basel tonight will spare them being left out in the cold.
Third in Group B, level on four points with Bulgarian side Ludogorets, Liverpool are two points behind Basel and 11 points adrift of unbeaten group winners Real Madrid. Liverpool have no more wriggle room after a disappointing campaign so far.
After a four-year absence Liverpool's return to a tournament in which they have such a rich history has been an anti-climax, but a first victory since September would see them snatch a last 16 spot at the expense of the Swiss side.
Basel, who beat Liverpool 1-0 in October, need just a draw.
While Liverpool would have hoped to have performed better, the stage is set for one of Anfield's special nights.
"We will get great support and there will be energy," said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, whose side suffered a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Sunderland on Saturday.
"I remember against Zenit St Petersburg [last year] we needed to win by two goals and went 1-0 down early on, which meant we had to win by three. We then came back to win the game 3-1.
"We could not muster that last goal. But it showed then that the support and the players coming together can be a real force.
"I am looking at that as being a big advantage for us."
Basel's win against the Reds in October was their fourth in succession against English opposition in the competition.
Today's Uefa Champions League fixtures (all matches kickoff at 9.45pm): Monaco v Zenit St Petersburg, Galatasaray v Arsenal, Real Madrid v Ludogorets Razgrad, Benfica v Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund v RSC Anderlecht, Juventus v Atletico Madrid, Liverpool v FC Basel, Olympiakos v Malmo FF.
Liverpool's last chance in the Champions League campaign
LONDON - Liverpool have reached last chance saloon in the Champions League and only victory against Swiss champions FC Basel tonight will spare them being left out in the cold.
Third in Group B, level on four points with Bulgarian side Ludogorets, Liverpool are two points behind Basel and 11 points adrift of unbeaten group winners Real Madrid. Liverpool have no more wriggle room after a disappointing campaign so far.
After a four-year absence Liverpool's return to a tournament in which they have such a rich history has been an anti-climax, but a first victory since September would see them snatch a last 16 spot at the expense of the Swiss side.
Basel, who beat Liverpool 1-0 in October, need just a draw.
While Liverpool would have hoped to have performed better, the stage is set for one of Anfield's special nights.
"We will get great support and there will be energy," said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, whose side suffered a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to Sunderland on Saturday.
"I remember against Zenit St Petersburg [last year] we needed to win by two goals and went 1-0 down early on, which meant we had to win by three. We then came back to win the game 3-1.
"We could not muster that last goal. But it showed then that the support and the players coming together can be a real force.
"I am looking at that as being a big advantage for us."
Basel's win against the Reds in October was their fourth in succession against English opposition in the competition.
Today's Uefa Champions League fixtures (all matches kickoff at 9.45pm): Monaco v Zenit St Petersburg, Galatasaray v Arsenal, Real Madrid v Ludogorets Razgrad, Benfica v Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund v RSC Anderlecht, Juventus v Atletico Madrid, Liverpool v FC Basel, Olympiakos v Malmo FF.
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