Pre-Match: Liverpool V Basel Tuesday 9 Dec 7.45pm

Champions League - Liverpool vs. Basel




Mignolet

Johnson
Skrtel
Toure
Moreno

Gerrard (c)
Lucas
Can

Sterling
Coutinho

Lambert

Subs: Jones; Lovren, Enrique; Allen, Henderson; Lallana; Markovic.

Big match! Big Chance!

We "just" have to beat Basel and we will be through to the last 16! A big night like this could give us a real boost for the upcoming fixtures!

Cracking atmosphere will be fundamental for a victory!




YNWA  - We won it 5 times

3rd biggest game of Brendan's career after City and Chelsea last season. One I would expect him to win despite our form of late.

Basel are a good side. I'd like to think that we could beat them though.

2-1

Just can't see u beating this side, they are very good IMO and a world better than we are.

The only way would be to go long ball, if we try and play football they will murder us, like Palace, Villa, West Ham have done.

Hendo needs to be dropped, Can should get a look in. Going for a 4-1-4-1

Mignolet
Johnson-Skrtel-Toure-Moreno
Lucas
Sterling-Stevie-Can-Lallana
Lambert

Subs: Jones, Lovren, Enrique, Allen, Henderson, Coutinho, Markovic

Gerrard definitely going to start then as Rodgers has already said.

Henderson deserves to be dropped on current form, but then others are still sticking it out in the team so wouldn't assume he would be out.

4 shots on target in the last 180 minutes tells me that we need to play 2 up front.  May as well bin a holding midielder off and replace him with Borini up front.

I'd play as many attackers as we can, Markovic, Lallana, Sterling, Borini, Lambert.  Throw them all in.  Play three at the back.  I don't care.  Just do something a little more adventurous.

Basel are better than Sunderland and Stoke.

Please, let's do it reds.

I wouldn't be very confident playing against anyone in the knockout rounds at this very moment, but since it would only happen in February, we would have more than enough time to sort ourselves.

Just get a win, no matter how ugly it is.

I don't see us winning this without any movement up front. It's never going to happen but I'd start with a false 9, keep the game tight and then look to counter.

Mignolet
Johnson-Skrtel-Toure-Moreno
Lucas
Sterling-Stevie-Can-Lallana
Lambert

I'd use that team and formation except for Lambert. I'd replace him with somebody like Markovic or Gerrard. If the latter then put Coutinho in the middle alongside Can. Lambert needs to learn to stay central for us to have a chance of winning and I don't see that happening by tomorrow night.

Gerrard definitely going to start then as Rodgers has already said.

Henderson deserves to be dropped on current form, but then others are still sticking it out in the team so wouldn't assume he would be out.

4 shots on target in the last 180 minutes tells me that we need to play 2 up front.  May as well bin a holding midielder off and replace him with Borini up front.

I'd play as many attackers as we can, Markovic, Lallana, Sterling, Borini, Lambert.  Throw them all in.  Play three at the back.  I don't care.  Just do something a little more adventurous.

Basel are better than Sunderland and Stoke.

Rodgers won't play Borini despite performing well in the few minutes he has played this season. The lad may as well have leprosy.

Well, this is what we have been waiting for - over the last few years we have all talked about these 'Big European Nights' and what they mean to the club and this is about as big as it gets.  So, 90 mins - best team goes through other goes home... Honestly this has the makings of a classic night at Anfield...

We can beat these guys, at their place the beat us 1-0 and they have no injury worries reported so expect the same team (who are smashing it in their league at the moment). But we had a poor time, were playing worse and IMO carrying a few players that night... But we need to go at them from the off and really smash it, in 2011 they dumped out Utd and they will be looking to do the same again. Establish a quick fire lead and pile the pressure on - the second we come off the gas here is the second they score and we crash out...

Regardless of the result this will be a great game, an unreal atmosphere at Anfield and one to try and enjoy for the players. However, if they put out the kind of turgid displays they have been (Stoke first half Sunderland first 70 mins) then I expect a few axes in the media and boardroom to be sharpened - and a fair few more on here! I think the players and Rogers know this so I expect an improvement.

Heart sais we will be ok, head is not so sure...

Borini, Sterling, Lallana, Markovic,

Can, Gerrard

Moreno, Toure, Skrtel, Manquillo.

Migs.

Attacking 4 please

A real Liverpool game this, we thrive in them. And though weve been poor this season I fully expect us to thrive again tomorrow night

Crank it up from the first and make them wilt. Leave Lucas covering the back 4 and tell the rest to attack attack attack

Johnson Toure Skrtel Enrique

            Lucas

Sterling Gerrard Lallana

        Lambert Borini

The game of the season.
It's also crucial to have some extra money to invest in the market in January.
In the last years Basel has accumulated a good European experience: they also won against Chelsea in Stamford Bridge and drew 3-3 against Man United. Xhaka, Schär, Frei and Streller are good players. It's not a team to be underestimated.
Reds are encountering many difficulties in the building of the game and especially in scoring goals.
These are the games where Anfield can make the difference.
It'll be crucial to score early and put pressure on Basel who'll be forced to expose itself.

I want to see something different in attack and would love Gerrard to score a screamer to win us the game

       Lucas
Hendo    Moreno
      Sterling
 Gerrard  Borini

Mignolet
Johnson - Skrtel - Toure - Moreno
Lucas - Can
Lallana - Gerrard - Sterling
Borini

Would be happy with Coutinho instead of Gerrard, swap each of them around the hour mark.

Mignolet
Johnson - Skrtel - Toure - Moreno
Lucas - Can
Lallana - Gerrard - Sterling
Borini

Would be happy with Coutinho instead of Gerrard, swap each of them around the hour mark.

really underwhelmed about this match... but I'd go with this team...

If Brendan doesn't play Gerrard in a forward position from the get go then god knows what he's thinking.

Mignolet
Johnson - Skrtel - Toure - Moreno
Lucas - Can
Lallana - Gerrard - Sterling
Borini

Would be happy with Coutinho instead of Gerrard, swap each of them around the hour mark.

You spelled Lambert wrong, Bren.

I want the win of course, but for fucks sake lads, give us a performance worth remembering too. Especially for the Anfield faithful who will be doing their best as always to spur you on.

If you can't raise your performance in games like this and under the tremendous support, then you don't deserve to play for Liverpool. Tough luck but fair.

I have a really bad feeling about this game.... I should be very confident considering our players are valued at roughly 10x what Basel's are and the fact that we are at "fortress Anfield" but I just have a bad feeling. We struggled to break down Leicester before they went down a man, and we couldn't manage a single goal against a relegation contender that shipped 8 in a single match to Southampton!! I just can't see how we will find the quality to win this must win game at the moment....

Hope Lambert doesn't play in this one, we need some movement up top for a change.

Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Toure, Moreno; Lucas, Can; Lallana, Gerrard, Coutinho; Sterling.

Not feeling very confident for this one but it's a must win game in Europe at Anfield. Anything can happen.

I'm not that confident we'll win this considering our performances this season, but it would be such a confidence booster if we could somehow scrape through.

              Migs
GJ - Skrtel - Toure - Moreno
           Can - Lucas
   Sterling - Stevie - Couts
             Lambo

Won't be able to watch this one so please get us a win Redmen so that this isn't the last Champion's League game I get to watch you play this season.

Gonna be a win baby!

Can feel it in my bones!

Or maybe that's just arthritis?