• Basel 1-0 Liverpool, Champions League

Lacklustre Liverpool punished by Streller

Geoffroy Serey Die keeps Mario Balotelli at bay on a frustrating night for Liverpool © Getty Images

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Liverpool face an uphill battle in Champions League Group B after falling to defeat in Basel.

Marco Streller scored the only goal of the game for the hosts when he pounced on a rebound from a corner early in the second half.

It means Liverpool go into back-to-back matches against Real Madrid knowing they must take something to keep in touch with Basel, who now face group minnows Ludogorets in their own double-header.

Livepool had the ball in the net after three minutes when Raheem Sterling hit the post and then put in the rebound, all of which came after being flagged for offside. It was the only moment of note in a dire first half from both sides.

Match Analysis

• Man of the Match: Marco Streller was the stand-out performer not just for his goal but also for his all-round contribution. Caused the Liverpool defence fits on numerous occasions.
• Villain: He's beginning to make this category his own - Lazar Markovic summed his own performance up perfectly at one point by leaving the Basel midfield for dead with his pace then hitting his pass straight to a defender. Remains a major concern.
• Key Moment: Raheem Sterling managing to tackle himself when clean through in the second half for what could have been a face-saving equaliser.
• Steven Saunders

Liverpool were perhaps fortunate to avoid conceding a penalty five minutes into the second half when Sterling grabbed substitute Derlis Gonzalez around the neck in the penalty area. Referee Jonas Eriksson of Sweden was unmoved.

Ahmed Hamoudi drew a good low stop from Simon Mignolet soon after when he was set free on the left flank, but the resistance lasted just 30 seconds longer. From the resulting corner, a header was directed goalwards by Taulant Xhaka and brilliantly parried by Mignolet, only for Streller to pounce swiftly on the rebound and fire it high into the net from close range.

It was no more than Basel's play had deserved. Liverpool looked to hit back, with Mario Balotelli firing in a long-range free-kick that tested Tomas Vaclik and rebounded out to Lazar Markovic, whose shot was blocked by a retreating defender.

Sterling had Liverpool's best chance of the closing stages but somehow contrived to miscontrol the ball when put clean through on goal. Balotelli had the ball in the net in the 88th minute but had already been flagged for offside.

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