After starting the group stage with a win over Ludogorets, Liverpool made the trip to Switzerland to face Basel in their first away game in Champions League since 2009.
The continuing absence of Daniel Sturridge meant a three pronged attack in the form of Raheem Sterling, Lazar Markovic and Mario Balotelli but it took until the 18th minute for the attack of either side to make an impact.
Steven Gerrard swept in a dangerous free kick but could only find the Basel defence which cleared with ease and the ex-England captain had another chance from a free-kick just three minutes later and this time around beat the defence by could only find the arms of Vaclik.
Basel responded and could have gone ahead in the 23rd minute with an effort from Elneny whose powerful shot at goal could only draw a comfortable save from Simon Mignolet which was soon followed by a stray shot from Hamdoui which went wide of the target.
Liverpool continued to face heavy pressure from Basel with Serey Die testing Simon Mignolet with a strong shot which the Belgian saved well before his opposite number was called into action to save after a shot from Raheem Sterling. The Reds had a superb chance to go into the interval in the lead as Phillipe Coutinho swept in a dangerous free-kick which found the head of Dejan Lovren whose effort drew a strong save from Vaclik.
Basel started the second half the better of the two sides and threatened with a run and shot from Hamdoui which drew a parrying save from Simon Mignolet who forced a corner Basel opened the scoring from the corner with a dangerous cross causing chaos in the Liverpool area allowing Marco Streller to hit past Simon Mignolet for 1-0.
Mario Balotelli had two good chances to equalise just after the hour mark with a long range free-kick drawing a save from Vaclik with the defence denying Lazar Markovic's rebounded effort before the Italian blazed the ball over the bar from the edge of the area. A clever one-two between Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana saw the former look to test Vaclik but a tame effort was the result and the move broke down.
Liverpool continued to push for a leveller but to no amends as they suffered their first defeat of the campaign ahead of a tough double-header against reigning champions Real Madrid.
The continuing absence of Daniel Sturridge meant a three pronged attack in the form of Raheem Sterling, Lazar Markovic and Mario Balotelli but it took until the 18th minute for the attack of either side to make an impact.
Steven Gerrard swept in a dangerous free kick but could only find the Basel defence which cleared with ease and the ex-England captain had another chance from a free-kick just three minutes later and this time around beat the defence by could only find the arms of Vaclik.
Basel responded and could have gone ahead in the 23rd minute with an effort from Elneny whose powerful shot at goal could only draw a comfortable save from Simon Mignolet which was soon followed by a stray shot from Hamdoui which went wide of the target.
Liverpool continued to face heavy pressure from Basel with Serey Die testing Simon Mignolet with a strong shot which the Belgian saved well before his opposite number was called into action to save after a shot from Raheem Sterling. The Reds had a superb chance to go into the interval in the lead as Phillipe Coutinho swept in a dangerous free-kick which found the head of Dejan Lovren whose effort drew a strong save from Vaclik.
Basel started the second half the better of the two sides and threatened with a run and shot from Hamdoui which drew a parrying save from Simon Mignolet who forced a corner Basel opened the scoring from the corner with a dangerous cross causing chaos in the Liverpool area allowing Marco Streller to hit past Simon Mignolet for 1-0.
Mario Balotelli had two good chances to equalise just after the hour mark with a long range free-kick drawing a save from Vaclik with the defence denying Lazar Markovic's rebounded effort before the Italian blazed the ball over the bar from the edge of the area. A clever one-two between Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana saw the former look to test Vaclik but a tame effort was the result and the move broke down.
Liverpool continued to push for a leveller but to no amends as they suffered their first defeat of the campaign ahead of a tough double-header against reigning champions Real Madrid.
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