Basel vs Liverpool preview - Basle eyeing another big-name scalp

Posted Wednesday, October 01, 2014 by PA

Basle coach Paulo Sousa is looking for his side to "create a story" for his club by beating Liverpool in the Champions League.

In the last three years the Swiss side have beaten Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United in European competition, and adding Brendan Rodgers' Reds to that list would be an achievement to match those, according to the Portuguese.

Their only previous meeting with Liverpool was in the group stages of the Champions League in 2002 and while they held their more illustrious opponents to two draws, the second of those - 3-3 at home having gone 3-0 up - sent the Merseysiders crashing out of the competition.

"We could create a story tomorrow which will be remembered in the future," said Sousa, whose side have won seven of their first 10 Swiss Super League matches.

"As a coach all the games are a real test. It is a fantastic moment for us, myself and the players and our club to enjoy but also to compete as we are looking to get results."

Goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik is relishing the prospect of facing Liverpool and their striker Mario Balotelli.

"I am not nervous. I am looking forward to it and I want to find a balance between a good performance and enjoying the game," he said.

"Playing against Mario is always special for everyone on the pitch because he is one of the best strikers in the world.

"We all know him but it will not be as special for me as it will the central defenders - I will be the last line of defence."

Liverpool boss Rodgers denies there is unrest within the camp after a stuttering start to the season but admits he has warned defender Mamadou Sakho about his behaviour.

The France defender is expected to be fined after storming out of Anfield ahead of Saturday's Merseyside derby having discovered he was not in the squad.

Sakho has not travelled to Switzerland as Rodgers said he sustained a thigh injury which will rule him out for two to three weeks but he has tackled the 24-year-old over his weekend strop.

"It is not something we expect from any of our players but we have spoken," he said. "He knows fully the situation, he apologised and we move on from it.

"His injury has come in a training session so it is unfortunate really. He just felt a pain in his thigh, he has had the scan on it and it shows he has a slight tear in there which will be two to three weeks."

Rodgers denied there was unhappiness in the camp after a disappointing start to the campaign which has seen his side win just four times in eight games.

"It is anything but that," he added. "Any of the players will tell you this is a group that is very much based on success and the behaviours within our team.

"We can understand that a player is not happy but it is very important that what we have achieved is down to the team.

"We are obviously working hard to consistently win games and I think we are seeing the early stages of all the players integrating and coming together.

"It will take a bit of time but it is never something which affects the team. The team is very happy in terms of the relations with each other and we aim to continue to simply work hard and gain positive results."

They will do that, for the time being, without Daniel Sturridge as the England striker is not yet fit to return from a thigh strain which has sidelined him for five matches.