Liverpool came from behind to draw with Basel, but couldn’t force a winner…
Steven Gerrard gave Liverpool hope with his free-kick nine minutes from time, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Reds crashing out of the Champions League at the first hurdle.
Fabian Frei gave Basel the lead, before Lazar Markovic’s controversial red card but Brendan Rodgers’ side up against it. The home side did hit back in the closing stages, but they couldn’t force the winner they needed to qualify.
Watch Basel’s goal below, as Frei plays a give-and-go with dangerman Luca Zuffi before cracking in left-footed from 20 yards. Right into the corner.
Things went from bad to worse for Liverpool, whose half-time substitute Markovic was given his marching orders for ‘lashing out’ at the Basel defender. This looked harsh to say the least.
But Gerrard delivered the most brilliant free-kick. Into the top corner, off the inside of the post in fact. It could not be better placed. Unfortunately, it only proved to be a consolation. What next for Liverpool?