FC Basel vs. Liverpool FC: UEFA Champions League

Basel will host Liverpool in the match-day 2 of Champions League. While Liverpool sneaked past debutants Ludogorets at Anfield, Basel got hammered by champions Real at Bernabéu. Neither had a great domestic run either. Basel took just four points from their three Swiss Super League games in September. Liverpool were even more shambolic; taking just ONE point from their three English Premier League games and just making it past second-tire Middlesbrough in the Capital One Cup. This will be the third meeting of these two clubs. The previous two, Champions League group games in 2002, ended in draws.

Sturridge is tipped to return, possible as substitute while there’s nothing reliable about Allen. I think the merry-go-round of the back two is set to continue while Coutinho might replace Markovic.

draw would be OK result but win would boost our confidence for upcoming two EPL games.

After this game we face Madrid twice in the CL. A victory here would take a lot of pressure off our shoulders when it comes to qualifying from this group.

I hope Sakho and Enrique would start.

f*** start Suso pls and if possible rotate here-there one/two players probably. I think we will do OK in defense...attack is worrying me again because of absence of Studge. BR is having such a shite time, neither attacking nor defensive performance from this team right now.

Must win. We *bleep* up here and we make it very tough for us to get out of the group.

A draw wouldnt be the end of the world, But we cant lose.

Whats the team news like? Sturridge and Allen fit?

Will be missing this as im traveling. Will be following on twitter.

4231 and we lose.

-----------Mignolet-----------
Manquillo-Skrtel-Sakho-Moreno
------------Gerrard-----------
------Henderson-Lallana------
Raheem----Lambert----Balotelli

Well, unfortunately, Basel lost some very important players with Yann Sommer and Vale Stocker this season. They also kicked out Murat Yakin as the Basel board weren't impressed by Yakin's ability to mix concrete (aka PTB) which nonetheless allowed them to win the Super League repeatedly and go far in the Europa League, but the team didn't look them swashbuckling enough.

Now with Paolo Sousa as coach, Basel started better into the league than ever before in the last four or so years (when they still always won the League by a huge margin in the end), but many people aren't so endeared with the Portuguese coach as he doesn't speak German, keeps out the fans from the training sessions and puts accomplished players onto the bench or even into the stands. There are rumours of growing unrest in the team, too, as the players are never sure who will play and some seem to feel undervalued.

On the other hand, Basel is always pretty strong at home and the fans support their team passionately. I think a draw will probably be the most realistic outcome of the match.

Sturridge and Sahko not in the squad boys.

If we cant beat them now, We'll make it very tough for ourselves.

mr-r34 wrote:Sturridge and Sahko not in the squad boys.

ffs hope we score and draw. Coutinho Sterling Lallana is still the way to go.

Sakho deserved it, Showed lack of respect and was booted out.

It's not even just the disrespect though. He hasn't earned his spot -- every time he's played he's looked shaky...not that the rest of our defenders have been great, but he needs to come in and show what he shows for the NT. He needs to be a commanding presence on the back-line and step up or he will continue to ride the bench.

Need a win here though.

Basel's record against English Sides in Switzerland

2-1 W vs. Man U
2-2 D vs. Spurs (Won on penalties)
1-0 W vs. Chelsea

yep....It'll be nervy as hell. I think Lallana will score for us though.

we are always good in breaking records. Since it is an away game, I think we will score 1 or 2 goals on counter

Hmm, so Sturridge for this one either .

I would really like a fit Studge back and no need to rush him. We need him back fit so that we can put a consistent set of results toether to get the momentum going on before we hit Jan. Just keep playing in a way, compromising style so that we get three points, this will be BR's real test if he can get the results when key players are missing

Game day kids!! Gonna get this win I feel it.

jesus, this team is so frustrating to watch

One of those games where a 0-0 looks the likeliest at HT.

Looks like Gerrard is set to play 3 games in a week again?

Meh he'll have 3 weeks after that to go on holiday.

But it looks like we have 11 strangers fielded who have never played with each other before. So disjointed.

This is really worrisome .

Bunch of frauds the whole lot of them. Majorly pissed. I rather not say anything before I get banned. I'm gonna go take a nap smh

It's like we've got midfield + attack full of playmakers and no goalscorers.

We are such a mediocre team tactically I cannot even begin to produce words of how bad we are.

Balotelli, forgot he had 10 other men around him and was offside as many times as Lovren gets passed.

If Brendan is thinking Balotelli is the man to lead our line he is dead wrong considering Mario will NEVER be a lone striker considering he does not know how to take responsibility and is far better playing off a pillar than being his usual lazy idiotic self.

We have no plan, no tactics, no guile, direction or vectors in which way to carry the ball.

Rodgers has got to seriously overhaul the tactical side if not re-evaluate the direction of this team.

We suck.

. Next season then.....