BASEL, SWITZERLAND - Wednesday, October 1, 2014: Liverpool's players line up for a team group photograph before the UEFA Champions League Group B match against FC Basel at the St. Jakob-Park Stadium. Back row L-R: Jose Enrique, Dejan Lovren, goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, Martin Skrtel, Mario Balotelli, Jordan Henderson. Front row L-R: Lazar Markovic, captain Steven Gerrard, Raheem Sterling, Javier Manquillo, Philippe Coutinho Correia. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

FC Basel 1-0 Liverpool: Player Ratings

A below-par Liverpool lost 1-0 to Basel in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, as their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages were dealt a blow. Henry Jackson rates each Reds performer on a very disappointing evening.

BASEL, SWITZERLAND - Wednesday, October 1, 2014: FC Basel's Marco Streller scores the first goal against Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League Group B match at the St. Jakob-Park Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

SIMON MIGNOLET – 7 (out of 10)

The 26-year-old had a good evening, making three fine saves and responding well to the criticism of him of late. He needs to be more dominant from set-pieces though.

JAVIER MANQUILLO- 6.5

Manquillo was one of Liverpool’s better performers, getting forward well on numerous occasions and defending resolutely. The 20-year-old is improving all the time.

MARTIN SKRTEL- 6

A fairly solid performance from the Slovakian, but he was at fault for Basel’s goal after getting himself in a bad position.

DEJAN LOVREN- 6.5

Lovren is showing definite signs of improvement as he adjusts to life in a Liverpool shirt, and he was largely reliable while others around him floundered.

JOSE ENRIQUE- 6.5

The 28-year-old looked a little rusty early on, but he supported the attack well and did pretty well defensively against a pacey Basel side.

European Football - UEFA Champions League - Group B - FC Basel 1893 v Liverpool FC

STEVEN GERRARD- 5.5

The skipper had a frustrating evening. He lost the ball carelessly in the first-half, but did at least make up for it with a good block. His set-piece delivery was erratic, and he tired as the game went on.

JORDAN HENDERSON- 6

Not the 24-year-old’s finest performance this season, but his work-rate was as faultless as ever and he used the ball well in general. Lacked his usual influence though.

PHILIPPE COUTINHO- 5.5

The 22-year-old can frustrate at times, but he showed some typical class on the ball. He was on the periphery of things throughout, however, and his place in Brendan Rodgers’ first-choice starting XI is debatable.

LAZAR MARKOVIC- 5

After a poor display against Everton, the 20-year-old struggled again despite a fairly promising start. The Serbia international had numerous chances but his finishing was erratic, while a lot of his attacking play was far too predictable.

RAHEEM STERLING- 5

Sterling had a poor evening, certainly by his standards, struggling to beat the full-back a number of times and losing possession too easily as well. He also wasted a couple of glorious chances to equalise in the second-half.

European Football - UEFA Champions League - Group B - FC Basel 1893 v Liverpool FC

MARIO BALOTELLI-4.5

The 24-year-old was simply not good enough, showing a poor attitude, unpredictable use of the ball and a general lack of influence from start to finish. So far, he has been a flop, and he must do better.

Substitutes

ADAM LALLANA (on for Coutinho 69)- 6.5

The 26-year-old made a difference when he came on, showing an urgency and creativity lacking in others.

RICKIE LAMBERT (on for Markovic 81)- n/a

The former Southampton man had no time to make an impact. He must be watching Balotelli and wondering just why he isn’t starting ahead of the Italian.

Who was your Man of the Match? Let us know in the comments section below.


Player ratings definitions: 10 = Faultless | 9 = Excellent | 8 = Very Good | 7 = Good | 6 = Average | 5 = Below Par | 4 = Bad | 3 = Very Bad | 2 Awful | 1 = Surely Not

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