FC Basel 1 - 0 Liverpool: Basel stun Liverpool to claim another English scalp

 

Swiss champions FC Basel claimed another English Premier League scalp when they deservedly beat a sloppy Liverpool 1-0 with a Marco Streller goal in the Champions League on Wednesday.

The Basel captain turned the ball in from close range after goalkeeper Simon Mignolet saved a goal-bound header seven minutes into the second half as the Swiss pulled off another European upset.

Basel, who bounced back from a 5-1 mauling by Real Madrid in their opening game, have previously beaten Chelsea and Manchester United in the Champions League in the last four seasons and knocked Tottenham Hotspur out of the Europa League.

Liverpool, who began Group B with a home win over Ludogorets Razgrad, gave Basel goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik very little to do and Raheem Sterling fluffed their best chance in the 75th minute when Adam Lallana sent him clear but he hesitated too long and was dispossessed.

Liverpool and Basel both have three points after two games, behind Real Madrid who top the group with six.

Steven Gerrard summed up Liverpool's evening when he wasted two early set pieces with poor delivery.

Basel were the better side in the first half although Simon Mignolet had to make only one save, when he blocked Geoffroy Serey Die's toe-poked effort after the Ivorian midfielder waltzed his way into the Liverpool area.

With Ahmed Hamoudi and Breel Embolo both lively, Basel got into plenty of dangerous positions but the final pass often let them down.

Mignolet was called into action again early in the second half when he blocked Hamoudi's angled drive after the energetic Egyptian got away down the left following the breakdown of a Liverpool attack.

But he was beaten as Liverpool failed to deal with the resulting corner.


 

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