Having praised Raheem Sterling, he then takes a poor touch inside when he had a good chance on his left foot and the danger has passed. Liverpool make a change as Adam Lallana replaces Philippe Coutinho.

Can the former Saint offer some salvation?

Jez Needham:, external Skrtel is like Sakho - an absolute liability. Why did we sell Agger? Rodgers like other managers can't admit dropping a clanger!

Liam Stones:, external Balotelli offers nothing he needs to come off while Liverpool still have a chance.

Alistair Lowe:, external Basel are average, Liverpool are below that. The defence is as bad or worse than last season with absolutely no goal threat now.

Image source, EPA

Eduardo Salvio pulled one back for Benfica but less than 200 seconds later Hakan Calhanoglu scored a penalty to put Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 ahead.

No other goals yet in the second half as Real Madrid are still 1-1 in Sofia.

Where there is Raheem Sterling, there is hope for Liverpool. The youngster bursts away from two defenders to open up a shooting opportunity but at the last minute one of them extends a Dhalsim-like leg to lever the ball clear.

Liverpool have 23 minutes of normal time remaining.

Paul from Norfolk: Totally bewildered about our performance this season. Rodgers seems to have totally lost the plot and not repaired the appalling defence which cost us the title last season. Gutted.

Mo from Manchester: People will say Brendan Rodgers did brilliantly last season, let's not forget Dalglish bought Suarez and let's be honest without him we'd have been in the same place last season. Awful signings, awful management, no plan B. Where's the development?

Jo from Cardiff: Has Dave from Guernsey just woken from a nap thinking its August 2012? We're not a selling club anymore, exciting times ahead.

While that penalty drama was unfolding at the Emirates Mario Balotelli forced Tomas Vaclik into an unorthodox save with a swerving free-kick from fully 40 yards. Slightly better from Liverpool but they need to raise it.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown
BBC Radio 5 live

"Szczesny missed the ball. He thinks it's going to come into his body. He doesn't extend his arm and catches his opponent. Maybe Calum Chambers just kept everyone onside and Szczesny came out at speed and completely mis-read it.

"It was a great finish from the penalty and David Ospina almost dived out of the ground."

Burak? Yes he can! Confident spot-kick from Burak Yilmaz as he converts into the corner, before a fist pump and a sprint to retrieve the ball that suggests that it may not be just a consolation.

Image source, Getty Images

Here comes David Ospina then, the Arsenal goalkeeper replaces Alexis Sanchez and will have to face the spot-kick first up.

Wojciech Szczesny is off his line quickly and wipes out Burak Yilmaz - he has to go! Penalty and a red card, the old double whammy.

Image source, Getty Images

Into the last half an hour. Liverpool haven't had a shot on target in the second half.

Alastair Speed:, external Skrtel again, more interested in holding the man than a solid defensive header. Poor effort.

Toby:, external First rule of goalkeeping: Don't palm the ball back into the box. Poor from Mignolet.

Karim:, external Liverpool conceding from a set piece yet again! When will they learn?

Danny Welbeck is the sixth Englishman to score a hat-trick in the Champions League.

The other legends of the game are Mike Newell, Andrew Cole, Michael Owen, Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney. What a club.

I asked earlier if a draw would be a good result for Liverpool, how damaging would a defeat be? Steven Gerrard goes into the book for a ragged looking challenge. This Basel side have great intensity.

Image source, Getty Images

David from Guernsey: If Welbeck does turn out to match Henry, I doubt Arsenal will be in for quite a few excellent years - they will sell him long before then, as they have most of their best players.

Mike, United fan: So pleased for Danny Welbeck, great honest footballer and lovely guy.

Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown
BBC Radio 5 live

"What a great run from Danny Welbeck and he just lifted it over the keeper with an exquisite finish.

"To do that at pace shows real confidence. He put his arms out to the crowd as if to say 'look at me' and it's heart-warming to see a player showing the potential we knew was there."

Liverpool's soft centre is exposed again.

Neither Martin Skrtel or Dejan Lovren deal with a routine corner and when Simon Mignolet palms the ball back into the six-yard box, Marco Streller sweeps home for the opener.

Pretty shambolic from the visitors.

Image source, Getty Images

I'd say this was more like Dennis Bergkamp...

Lovely finish from Danny Welbeck to cap a great night for the England striker. He again times his run superbly to meet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's through ball and confidently clips over the keeper and into the net. Get him off now and get him wrapped up. The three points are!

Image source, AFP

Oliver Hughes:, external Markovic definitely deserves time to get adjusted with the Premier League. I'm sick of people slating him so early on.

William Broom:, external Markovic isn't quick enough on the ball. He seems a bit lost when he eventually gets the ball.

Sriram:, external Always felt Markovic was like Sterling in terms of his playing position. Why did we even get him when we have Sterling?