FC Basel v Liverpool Football Club

[Case]

A win here would set us right up in the CL. Watching them away at Real Madrid, they look like a quick, technically excellent side who like to counter (at least they did away from home), but are weak against rapid pace and fluid movement in attack.

 

So perfectly set up to play against us in our form at present, then.

 

Mignolet

Manquillo - Skrtel - Lovren - Moreno

Gerrard

Henderson - Coutinho - Lallana

Sterling

Balotelli

 

Jones - Enrique - Sakho - Lucas - Markovic - Lambert - Borini.

[scoose]

A win here would set us right up in the CL. Watching them away at Real Madrid, they look like a quick, technically excellent side who like to counter (at least they did away from home), but are weak against rapid pace and fluid movement in attack.

 

So perfectly set up to play against us in our form at present, then.

 

Mignolet

Manquillo - Skrtel - Lovren - Moreno

Gerrard

Henderson - Coutinho - Lallana

Sterling

Balotelli

 

Jones - Enrique - Sakho - Lucas - Markovic - Lambert - Borini.

 

I'd be tempted to give Markovic another go in this game. Get him back on the horse after yesterday. Also, think he may feel more at home in a european game

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Probably too early for a start for Sturridge but hopefully on the bench

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

could be a tough game, we can win it though. A draw is ok, a win is f***ing great

 

Hopefully Studg can make the matchday squad, get a run out & then need 'rest' during the international break

[baz2107]

I'd be tempted to give Markovic another go in this game. Get him back on the horse after yesterday. Also, think he may feel more at home in a european game

hes suspended

[doug_mac]

could be a tough game, we can win it though. A draw is ok, a win is f***ing great

 

Hopefully Studg can make the matchday squad, get a run out & then need 'rest' during the international break

 

leave sturridge to get himself fit

 

brendan wont play him here because he knows that gimp hodgson will call him up straight away for england

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Just had a quick scan of these to see what we might expect in terms of players, shape etc

 

Changes

• Paulo Sousa has taken charge since the Summer
  
• Basel lost their keeper, Sommer and striker, Stocker along with Salah.
  
• New signings are Gonzalez, Suchy, Gashi and Zuffi.
  

 

Results

• In the league this season their record is P9 W6 D1 L2
  
• Goals have been abundant in games involving Basel this season, scored 22 and conceded 14 in 9 league games
  
• They have been involved in three 3-1's, two 3-2's, a 4-1 and a 3-0
  
• Last season they beat Valencia 3-0 at home in the QF of the EL but lost 2nd leg 3-0. Had 2 sent off in ET and conceded another 2 in ET to lose 5-3 on agg.
  
• Basel beat Chelsea twice in 2013/14. Knocked out Zenit and Spurs in the EL in 2012/13. In 2011/12 they had home wins against Man Utd and Bayern Munich.
  

 

Formation

• They play with a back 3 and 1 out and out striker.
  
• Their formation is more of a 3-4-2-1 / 3-4-1-2.
  
• In general, 2 AM's support Streller with 2 CM's holding. However, given the nuances in formations, one of the AM's can play slightly deeper. Essentially, it can offer 2 options - (i) the deeper lying AM can pick up the ball from the CM's and (ii) it can allow the other AM try get ahead of Streller if the opponents push up too far and the defence hit the big man to flick on for someone like Gonzalez.
  
• Here is their average position vs Madrid
   
  

  

  
   
  

• Wing backs always gives the midfield an outlet out wide and allow the 2 AM's play the inside channels. Below is their pass map vs Madrid.
   
  

  

  
   
  

 

Defence

• Xhaka plays in the defence in the league but played RWB vs Madrid. If Degen is missing, he could start there.
  
• If Xhaka is RWB, Walter Samuel could come in to partner Fabian Schar (young Swiss international) and new signing Marek Suchy (26yr old Czech international)
  
• Fabian Schar is in the last year of his contract with Dortmund, Inter, Arsenal and Spurs interested in him. Could be one to keep an eye on. He has scored a few from set pieces and is quite comfortable on the ball. You might get sick of hearing the commentators tell you that he worked in a bank during his apprenticeship as a footballer.
  
• LWB slot should be filled by 29yr old Behrang Safari who made the Swedish Euro 2012 squad but has only played at a mid-tier level (Malmo, Basel, Anderlecht) though is not short of pace.
   
  

 

Midfield

• One of the CM spots should be filled by Fabian Frei (who missed out on a World Cup spot with Switzerland). The other could be filled by the young Egyptian international Mohamed Elneny who has played in the more difficult games but sacrificed by Sousa in games whereby Basel are likely to dominate their opponents.
  
• This season, Sousa bought 20 year old Paraguay international Gonzalez from Benfica. Gonzalez moved to Europe at 18 and was loaned out before moving to Basel. He is a very fast and direct player. Sousa has played him at RWB in 'easier' games when Basel have dominated but deployed his pace behind Streller in others.
  
• The other AM spot could be taken by Luca Zuffi. He is a player that can play deeper but has the ability to contribute to the attack. It makes him a natural option in these games, he can drop deeper and work for the team whilst having the quality to contribute to the attack.
  
• If Sousa is feeling bullish, he may drop Elneny, then play Zuffi deeper and look to play one of either Delgado or Gashi in the deeper role behind Streller. Look out for their stats below.
  
• Below is their goal vs Madrid
   
  
  

  
  

 

Attack

• Streller is 33yrs old and a huge 6'5.
  
• Streller was a Basel player between 2000 and 2004 but spend 2 years of that on loan. He moved to Schalke between 2004 and 2007 before returning to Basel.
  
• Since 2007 he has played almost 200 games with almost 90 goals. For Switzerland, he has 12 goals in 37 appearances
  

 

Players

• Top-scorer this season: Streller 5, Gashi 4, Zuffi 3
  
• Top assist this season: Delgado 4, Gashi 3, Frei 2, Gonzalez 2, Zuffi 2.
  
• Most yellows: Xhaka 3, Gonzalez 3.
  
• Most subbed off: Gashi 7, Delgado 3
  
• Most subbed on: Kakitani (4) - he's a 24yr old Japanese international with 5 goals in 14 appearances.
  

 

Weakness

• Sousa identified the spaces between the lines as the downfall for his teams defeat at Madrid.
  
• "When there is too much space between lines you must choose the best decisions because if you don't you are going to suffer. The gaps in our teams were too large sometimes and that made Madrid counter-attacks possible. The team mentality began to fail after the two first goals".
   
   
  Overall
  
  • Basel are top of the league in Switzerland
    
  • They have pedigree for beating some of Europe's top teams in the last few seasons.
    
  • They offer a threat from set pieces with Streller and Schar.
    
  • However, Sousa has identified this compeition as an area where Basel have to improve after taking over this season.
    
  • After losing in Madrid by being (apparently) too open, they will see Liverpool as their direct opponent to get out of this, group. This game is likely to be the biggest in the group for them if they want to get out of it .
    
  • Given their record under Sousa, they are not a team to defend. Additionally, they have beaten some big teams at home.
    
  • With Basel needing a win and their propensity to attack, we need a team that can absorb their attack and then spring on the counter.
    

  Our Team

   

  • With a draw being a solid result for Liverpool, Rodgers may go with a robust 3 in midfield but with Lallana and Sterling out wide to support Balotelli given their work ethic, skill and ability going forward.
    

   

  Mignolet

   

  Manquillo Skrtel Lovren Moreno

   

  Lucas Gerrard Henderson

   

  Sterling Balotelli Lallana

[realtarragona]

leave sturridge to get himself fit

 

brendan wont play him here because he knows that gimp hodgson will call him up straight away for england

 

Doubt it, if he's fit he'll play. Or going by your logic, he'd have to leave him out of West Brom as well.

 

Maybe if he doesn't last the full game(s) we can persuade England that he's not fully recovered and would be better off staying at Melwood. We're not gonna leave him out of 2 games just to ensure that though. Get beat at Basel and it could get difficult to get out of the group.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Basel 3/1

Liverpool EVS

 

Think it will be a bit tighter than that.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

f*** yeah. away an'all

[Case]

Great work, Rory. As per.

[scoose]

hes suspended

 

well thats that f***ed

[Zoob]

Basel 3/1

Liverpool EVS

 

Think it will be a bit tighter than that.

 

That's actually some pretty crazy odds given our form, dodgy defence, Sturridge on bench at very best, and Sterling could well be rested.

[fred milne]

I'd be tempted to play Lucas in the holding role and leave Gerrard on the bench to keep him fresh from West Brom.

[RP]

Basel 3/1

Liverpool EVS

 

 

 

Feels like there's some value in there.

[quibs]

I'd be tempted to play Lucas in the holding role and leave Gerrard on the bench to keep him fresh from West Brom.

Lucas and Henderson in midfield?

 

We miss Allen.

[Rory Fitzgerald]

Feels like there's some value in there.

 

The double chance is 8/11. Might nibble on the draw-no-bet market, if we lose then I win money and if we win then I dont care. If its a draw then I get my money back.

[fred milne]

Lucas and Henderson in midfield?

 

We miss Allen.

Henderson Lucas Coutinho in midfield

[The_Adder]

Henderson Lucas Coutinho in midfield

 

Yep, thats is what I would go for.

 

Lucas is okay in the holding role, you just cannot play him and Gerrard in the same side.

[Swipe]

No chance Gerrard's gonna be rested for this though.

 

Gonna be very tough. If we can get a win we're looking good, especially if Real beat that other lot.

[The_Adder]

No chance Gerrard's gonna be rested for this though.

 

Gonna be very tough. If we can get a win we're looking good, especially if Real beat that other lot.

 

He wont, but maybe he should.

 

We are are frustrating to watch without Sturridge.

[Swipe]

He wont, but maybe he should.

 

We are are frustrating to watch without Sturridge.

 

Yeah not arguing, just saying i think there's no chance.

 

Can only see him being rested for league cup games at the moment.

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

we have Basel on Weds & WBA on Sat. Then it's an int'l break

[schmuckdonald]

No Sturridge or Sakho.

[MarkD]

No Sturridge or Sakho.

 

I think that banner might be deemed racist.