Chasing two goals, Liverpool have taken off their only striker Rickie Lambert. He is replaced by Lazar Markovic, while Alberto Moreno replaces Jose Enrique at left-back. False nine time?

Image source, AFP

No such worries for Arsenal tonight, the Gunners in cruise control after scoring one of the great Champions League goals.

Follow that match here.

David in London: Terrible from Liverpool. Why does Rodgers start with three mainly defensive midfielders, and two defensive, slow full backs? Lallana, Coutinho and the two Spanish full backs should all be playing. Rodgers, I'm afraid I've lost faith in you.

Sarah in Coventry: Given up on Liverpool to watch Criminal Minds. Add your own massacre joke.....

Half-time whistles peeping around the continent and it has not been one of the all-time great halves of Champions League football.

Seven games have so far produced just seven goals.

Arsenal have three of them, leading Galatasaray 3-0. Real Madrid have two of them, leading Ludogorets 2-0. And Basel have one to put them ahead at Anfield.

Olympiakos's David Fuster has got the only other one so far to put his side up on Malmo.

It will be good enough to earn the Greeks Europa league football, but no more, as it stands. That is because Juventus are holding Atletico Madrid to a 0-0 draw, a scoreline good enough to take the Italians through.

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet (22) made more touches in the first half than striker Rickie Lambert (17). For a side who need to win, that is not ideal...

Mike Fisher:, external No need for two defensive midfielders for Liverpool, one should be enough freeing the other to push on

Lew Daney:, external In the second half we attack the Kop end, that should do the trick, right?...... right?

QPR goalkeeper Rob Green on Radio 5 live: "It is going to be a big ask now, a massive ask. Basel are no mugs, they've kept it tight at the back and made it really difficult for Liverpool. Whoever comes on for Liverpool is going to find it tough because they need to hit the ground running and make an impact."

Kevin Keats in Bradford: Any danger of Liverpool turning up? Can't remember seeing a good first half performance this season. Abject.

Jack in Lancashire: Really poor team selection from Rodgers tonight. No creativity and more concerned about not conceding than scoring.

Liverpool played 102 more passes than Basel in that first half but you would never have guessed. The Swiss side cutting through at will at times. As it stands, they are heading into the last 16.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer at Anfield

"A doom-laden Anfield response to the half-time whistle. Liverpool have been dreadful, lacking movement, pace and confidence. There has been a complete absence of creativity so it may not be too long before Phillipe Coutinho and Adam Lallana are introduced.

"It will take quite a transformation because Basel have looked more likely to add a second than Liverpool have to equalise."

Ian Dennis
BBC Radio 5 live senior football reporter

"Liverpool need to find two goals in the second half, but they also need to drastically improve.

"After an initial bright start, they've lacked composure and style to their play.

"In contrast, Basel going forward have been a real threat and Fabian Frei's fierce left-foot shot was no more than they deserved.

"Not good enough for Liverpool. As it stands, they're going out."

Liverpool need two goals in 45 minutes to keep the Champions League dream alive.

So who is on the bench? No Fabio Borini. No Mario Balotelli. No Neil Mellor and no Florent Sinama-Pongolle. Unfortunately.

Brendan Rodgers does have Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana, Emre Can and Lazar Markovic up his sleeves.

Nathan Coleclough:, external It's not crisp, sharp or clinical. Glimmer of hope is the pace of Sterling.

Ludo Bennett-Jones:, external We used to have Alonso and Mascherano marshalling midfield . Now it's Lucas and Allen. It's just depressing!

Apparently this is the first time in Champions League history that two Welshmen have scored on the same day (Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey).

Where were you Mark Pembridge and Barry Horne?

Tom Wylie:, external Anfield quiet, Rodgers clueless and only 3 players are good enough! We can say goodbye to the Champions League now!

David Goodman:, external Can't see Liverpool getting remotely close to what they need playing like this

Not good enough from Liverpool. Not good enough by a long, long way.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, AP

First, Cristiano Ronaldo allowed Gareth Bale to take a free-kick 20 yards from goal, now the Welshman is getting in on big Ron's salmon-leap, bullet-header routine.

He didn't have much marking to put him off his stride mind you. In off the bar from a near-post corner and Real Madrid are two to the good against Ludogorets.

Almost goodnight and game over! Shklezen Gashi strokes into the net for a second Basel goal - but the hosts are rescued by a correct offside flag. Liverpool need half-time to regather and regroup.

Tim Arstall:, external Painful to see Gerrard playing this badly, couple of passes uncharacteristically way off the mark already

Simon Levy:, external So much for the famous European atmosphere at Anfield. Don't hear any criticism of the Liverpool fans though...