Mark Lawrenson
Football Analyst on Focus Forum

"Ludogrets did surprise everyone when they came to Anfield, they are extremely well coached. This is not their home ground, though, they have to go to Sofia, and I think that helps Liverpool.

"At the moment though, Liverpool cannot buy a goal. I cannot see where that goal is coming from."

Joseph Trotter:, external If Gerrard is the answer to all of Liverpool's problems, attack or defence, presumably he will be in goal at the weekend.

Jamie Bolton:, external If we lose tonight Brendan has to go. I've been a massive supporter of the man but a loss tonight is unacceptable.

David Carville:, external Emre Can is exactly the kind of player Liverpool need right now. Strong enough to drive the ball forward and take on his man!

Less than 13 years later, Liverpool and Ludogorets are competing on a level European playing field.

The Bulgarians, who derive their name from the Ludogorie area - which translates as the 'region of wild forests', have enjoyed a rapid rise following current owner Kiril Domuschiev's takeover in 2010.

The Eagles were crowned Bulgarian champions for the first time two years later, sparking a three-season stranglehold on the top prize. This is their maiden campaign in the Champions League group stage and know they must beat Liverpool to stand any chance of reaching the last 16.

Tonight's tie takes place at Sofia's Vasil Levski National Stadium - 400km from Razgrad because the Ludogorets Arena does not meet Uefa requirements.

Image source, Getty Images

Cast your mind back to June 2001. A summer when Liverpool fans were still basking in the glory of Gerard Houllier's side winning, not one, not two, but THREE cup competitions.

That's right, the Reds finished the 2000-2001 season as Uefa Cup, FA Cup and League Cup winners. And it was a campaign where promising 21-year-old midfielder Steven Gerrard was named PFA Young Player of the Year.

That same month saw the creation of a new Bulgarian club called Ludogorets Razgrad....

Don't forget you can stay across all of tonight's action with Midweek Final Score. Just click the play button at the top of the page.

Finian in Peterborough: I think Liverpool's bad defence was there last season, but just Suarez leaving has highlighted that things need to happen.

Mo in Manchester: Only Rodgers has this sort of Logic: don't start Can, Coutinho and even Borini. Yet start Allen, Sterling, Johnson who have performed awfully in the last few weeks. Seriously why defend him?

Ave in Bristol: Rodgers' 4-4-2 diamond system was a revelation last season. It got the best out of SAS, and put us in a position that we had no right to e. Chelsea have Costa, City have Aguero, we need one big name striker to get results. Not better tactics.

Mark Lawrenson on 5 live

On Liverpool's defensive frailties: "As much as anything, it's about communication - making sure you're not dragged out of position.

"One of the problems is Martin Skrtel doesn't communicate very well. He's not been able to help Dejan Lovren. He has to fully concentrate on his own game to make sure he gets the best out of himself.

"You should be able to sort your defending out within in an hour on the training ground."

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool have been shipping goals all over the place this season, with their defence having been breached 24 times in 16 Premier League and Champions League games this season.

It's not something I thought I'd ever say but Kolo Toure had Cristiano Ronaldo in his back pocket in the narrow 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid earlier the month, and he is reinstated to the starting XI for this game.

A one off? We'll know soon enough.

Jermaine Jenas
Former England midfielder

"Everyone thought Liverpool would blow Ludogrets out of the water at the start of the competition and there would be this dream return to the Champions League but it has not quite happened.

"They still have a chance, though, if they get a result against Ludogorets and hope Basel slip up, although Basel have been very strong at home."

Hear more from Jermaine Jenas, Mark Lawrenson and Dan Walker about Liverpool's qualification chances on Focus Forum.

John Petty:, external Can't believe Lallana is on the bench for Liverpool tonight. Has he really gone from hero to zero since leaving Southampton?

Andrew Keenan:, external How does Emre Can not get a game? Surely he earned a start after his performance against Chelsea.

Rakshit Shetty:, external Why on earth is Johnson in the team after such poor performance on Saturday? The weak link in this Liverpool squad.

Image source, EPA

"It is totally down to the players," says Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert, who scored his first goal for the club at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

"They are desperate to get the game under way and try to rectify our performance at the weekend. Win or lose we have to put in a performance of the standard of a Liverpool team."

Time to turn words into action then lads.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Liverpool boss Roy Evans (pictured above left) has jumped to the aid of Brendan Rodgers, saying the players should shoulder a fair portion of the blame for the Reds' poor form.

"We're in a results industry of course and if you don't get results in football, usually the end comes as a manager," he tells BBC Radio 5 live. "After the success of last season, I think Brendan Rodgers' credibility is really high and obviously this season has been poor by the standards we set last year and somewhere along the line he has to start getting it right. But it's not just about Brendan Rodgers.

"These days, whatever happens in a football club seems to go on to the manager and not the players. They came with glowing reports in the summer but they haven't played to the best of their ability and they have put pressure on Brendan Rodgers. It's time they stepped up to the plate as well and they haven't done that so far."

Mark Lawrenson
Football Analyst

"Quite clearly Lucas has not caught the eye of the manager but he starts tonight to play that role in front of the back four.

"Steven Gerrard is still as good a passer as anyone in the Premier League. Brendan Rodgers is the fist Liverpool manager to have to manage the slight demise of Gerrard. That is obviously difficult but he would be my first name on the teamsheet because of his passing."

Barneys Blarney:, external Grobbelaar is spot on about Mignolet and the Liverpool defence. Letting Reina go was a huge mistake. Rodgers to stay for now.

Andrew Keenan:, external Rodgers completely at fault. He has no plan B and his stubbornness to make Gerrard work as a CDM is forcing him into the 4-2-3-1.

Lewis Beaton:, external We need a new 'keeper desperately. Mignolet is awful and Brad Jones is even worse.

Image source, Opta

It may not have happened for him in a deeper role so far this season, but Steven Gerrard would appear to be playing more advanced tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

Brendan Rodgers is not alone in having the finger of blame waved in his direction recently.

Long-serving Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has managed just three goals all season playing in the deepest midfield role, a position some fans feel he cannot play in.

"I think people expect him to be the player he was 10 years ago and that is simply not the case," says Rodgers.

"He is in at 8.30am every day to prepare for training. I judge him on that and the influence on other players. Every decision he makes is in the interests of Liverpool. He can still contribute at a high level and it is my job to manage how that is."

Marc in Portsmouth: You hear all the time that a point away from home in CL is a good result! Not tonight for Liverpool , they HAVE to win!

AB, a Liverpool fan in Leeds: Liverpool to win 2-1 tonight. Beat stoke, Leicester and Basel in next three games.....let's get behind the Reds and make them mighty again!

Mark Cheshire: Definition of insanity: doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results. What do Gerrard Allen and Johnson have to do to get dropped? And why only one up front?

As you already know (see 18:44), Liverpool need a massive favour from European kings Real Madrid tonight. And Madrid, who have already qualified for the last 16, have no intention of taking their foot off the gas judging by Carlo Ancelotti's team selection.

Cristiano Ronaldo starts. Gareth Bale starts. James Rodriguez starts. Those Basel hearts are beating a little quicker in the dressing room.

Madrid starting XI: Keylor Navas, Arbeloa, Varane, Ramos, Coentrao, Kroos, Isco, Rodriguez, Roanldo, Bale, Benzema.