Preview: Liverpool vs. Basel

Liverpool welcome Basel to Anfield on Tuesday evening with a place in the last-16 stage of the Champions League up for grabs for both sides.

Real Madrid have already qualified from Group B as winners, but second position is still on offer, with Basel currently in control on six points.

Liverpool, meanwhile, sit third on four points and must win if they are to make the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time since the 2008-09 season.

The Premier League side have gone four games without a win in the Champions League since overcoming Ludogorets Razgrad on matchday one. The Reds have also lost four of their last six Champions League games at Anfield.

That said, Liverpool's home record against Swiss clubs is strong, with three wins and two draws, but they lost 1-0 to Basel when the two sides met on matchday two earlier this season.

Basel are still searching for their first away points in this season's competition after losing at Real Madrid and Ludogorets, but they have won their last four games against Premier League opposition in the Champions League.

In fact, the Swiss outfit have lost just one of their nine meetings with English teams in the Champions League, which is an indication of the challenge that Liverpool face.

Liverpool have struggled in the Premier League this season, with Saturday's goalless draw at home to Sunderland leaving Brendan Rodgers's side in ninth position in the table.

Basel, however, won 3-0 at Luzern at the weekend and comfortably sit eight points clear at the top of their domestic league after 18 matches.

The home side are still without the services of long-term absentee Daniel Sturridge, while Mario Balotelli is still struggling with a hamstring problem.

Dejan Lovren is expected to return at centre-back alongside Martin Skrtel, while Steven Gerrard will also return to the middle of the park.

Basel, meanwhile, are expected to be without Giovanni Sio, who has a knee problem. Ivan Ivanoc will also miss out for the Swiss side, but Geoffroy Serey Die is available after serving a two-game suspension.

Marco Streller will captain the Swiss side from the front, while in-form Matias Delgado will attempt to build on his two goals against Luzern.

Liverpool:

Form in Champions League: LWLLLD Form in all competitions: LLDWWD

Possible starting lineup: Mignolet; Johnson, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno; Henderson, Lucas, Gerrard; Lallana, Lambert, Coutinho

Basel:

Form in Champions League: LLWLWL Form in all competitions: WWWLWW

Possible starting lineup: Vaclik; Degen, Samuel, Schar, Xhaka; Aliji, Delgado, Calla, Ahmed; Streller, El Nenny

Sports Mole says: 2-1