Liverpool in must-win Champions League encounter with Basel

It is fair to say that Liverpool have had a poor season in both the Premier League and Champions League, but they can still all-but qualify from their Group B in Europe with a win over Swiss outfit Basel.

The Reds are priced odds-on at 4/6 with Coral both for victory at Anfield and to make it to the knockout rounds in this competition for the first time since reaching the quarters in 2008/09.

However, in these two sides’ previous three head-to-heads, Liverpool, who have just four points from their five games so far this campaign, have not ended up on the winning side, losing once and drawing twice.

Brendan Rodgers’ men were defeated in Switzerland 1-0 by Basel this season, and the away side, who have a habit of causing shocks in the Champions League, are 4/1 chances for victory, and 16/1 by that scoreline again.

A draw (11/4) would even be enough for them to progress as Group B runners-up, unless Bulgarian minnows Ludogorets Razgrad were to smash reigning champions Real Madrid at the Bernabeu by five goals or more.

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has started in all three of his side’s meetings with Basel, the first being back in 2002, although did not manage to find the net. He is leading marksman for his club this season in all competitions, however, and is a 2/1 chance to net anytime.

Rodgers said of his captain, who came off the bench in the most recent 0-0 draw with Sunderland: “He was excellent when he came on and, of course, he plays on Tuesday night (December 9th).

“Stevie coming onto the field gives us the world-class quality that the team needs and I thought he was brilliant when he came on.

“It can’t be up to him every single game to be the catalyst, but it’s very hard to replace that quality.

“He’s still got that talent, he’s got world-class ability and at this stage of his career it’s about me managing that, along with him, in order to play in the big games.”

Rickie Lambert, who scored a goal in his only Champions League start this campaign, meanwhile, is likely to be the lone frontman in Daniel Sturridge’s continued absence and Mario Balotelli’s fitness issues. The England striker is 9/2 to net first.