How frustrating was that? Once again, a string of chances came and went, and once again our opponents score from the only clear chance they created in the whole game. We have given away some bad goals so far this season (and tonight's was right up there with the worst of them), but it's hard not to feel for the players when it seems that every sniff of goal we allow the opposition seems to end up in the back of Jerzy's net.
This result was not good. The performance however, was very good. In the first half we played some glorious stuff and carved out chance after chance. That we didn't get a bagful tonight was not down to poor finishing (as it has been in previous games), it was mainly down to some desperately bad luck and some inspired goalkeeping.
Three times the woodwork came to the Swiss side's rescue, although the keeper can take great credit for tipping two of those shots - both from Riise - onto the bar. It's hard to legislate for things like that, and I honestly couldn't fault any of the players tonight. Gerard is also blameless, as unlike last week, I don't think anyone can complain about his team selection tonight.
Without the suspended Hamann (courtesy of that joke of a referee from last week), Gerard opted for one of the most attacking line-ups he's ever selected. Heskey lined up on the left, with Cheyrou and Gerrard in the centre and SuperDan on the right. Owen and Baros were allowed the opportunity to continue their promising partnership from Saturday's game with West Brom.
Right from the opening whistle it was clear the reds were obviously up for this game. We'd started very slowly last week (it took 45 minutes in fact) in Spain, but this time we were quickly into our stride, with the outstanding Gerrard running the game from the middle of the park. In the opening half Steven was everywhere, chasing and harrying, and using the ball excellently.
Alongside him, Bruno Cheyrou demonstrated that he is starting to come to terms with the requirements of playing in midfield for Liverpool, by putting himself about and showing an admirable workrate. It's obviously not something that comes natural to the elegant Frenchman (his tackling style is proof of that) but at least he's having a go. There's a lot more to come from Bruno, but he did okay tonight I thought.
The Basel goal was under siege in the first half, and they were struggling to contain the lively Milan Baros, who was causing a lot of problems down their left hand side. The reds' passing and movement was excellent at times, and Carragher and Riise were benefitting a great deal from the space created by the midfielders tucking inside.
Riise could have had a first half hat-trick. Twice he saw goalbound shots tipped onto the bar, and he also scuffed a shot wide when he probably ought to have cut the ball back to a team-mate. Credit has to go to the Swiss keeper though, as both his saves to deny Riise were top quality. He also denied Owen from close range, as Michael's run of bad luck continued.
Michael again looked sharp, but he's just not getting the run of the ball at the moment. This has to be the worst run of his career in terms of not scoring, yet it's possibly the best in terms of how many chances he's had. Not sure if that makes sense, but ever since Michael got into the side, he's been fed on scraps. He's scored so many goals for us purely because he is a world class talent. Now, the team are actually playing very good attacking football and creating loads of chances for him, but he isn't putting them away. It can't last though, Michael's too good for this to carry on, and someone is going to suffer a mauling at the feet of Owen soon.
Luckily for us, Michael's goal drought isn't proving that costly, because Milan Baros is on fire at the moment. He deservedly gave us the lead when he combined well with the unselfish Heskey (who did very well in the first half, only to fade later on and be replaced by Diouf) and produced an excellent low finish into the bottom corner.
1-0, and now surely the floodgates would open? Wrong. Basel had done absolutely nothing in attack, aside from one shot which went wide after the ball had fortuitously fell at the feet of one their attackers in the box. Yet somehow they levelled the score, when Carragher was caught out by a ball lofted into the box, and Jerzy was beaten from an acute angle.
I haven't seen the replay of it yet, so I may be being a bit harsh here, but my initial view was that Carra should have headed the ball clear, and I also don't think Jerzy should be getting beat from that position. When the lad went through, I wasn't particularly worried as I didn't think he could score from that angle. The ball appeared to clip Jerzy's leg on it's way in, and I don't think the big Pole will be happy with it. As I said though, I haven't seen the replay of it, and I may be apportioning blame unfairly there.
The second half performance wasn't as impressive as the first, but we still created chances and should have won the game. It was one way traffic, and Basel made little attempt to break out of their own half, happy to try and hold on for a point. They rode their luck, and will be delighted with a draw which leaves them on four points and looking good.
The best chance of the second half fell to the lively Baros, who looked certain to score before the brilliant intervention of the left back Atouba, who appeared from nowhere to get a block on the shot and send the ball wide for a corner. Baros couln't believe it, and neither could the crowd, and with that I think most of us realised it wasn't going to be our night. Milan was desperatley unlucky not come away with the match ball, as earlier he'd seen a terrific snapshot strike the inside of the post and roll agonisingly across the goalline.
In the second period, everything seemed to be going straight at the keeper. Both Murphy and Diouf won headers in the box, only to send them directly into the arms of the Swiss keeper. Diouf in particular should have done better with his effort, and he also saw a fierce twenty yard shot brilliantly tipped away by the inspired visiting goalie.
El Hadji also went into the book for a blatant dive. The Kop howled their disapproval at the ref, but where I sit was right in line with it and it was a dive. The ref didn't miss a thing all night, and quite rightly booked Diouf. He needs to cut that shit out, because it will do him no favours. He's already suffered this season because of his reputation, but when he does things like this, he's asking for trouble.
Owen was replaced by Berger, but it made little difference. We could have played until next week and we wouldn't have beaten that keeper again. Lady Luck deserted us tonight, and as frustrating as it was, sometimes you just have to accept that things aren't going to go for you. I thought everyone played well tonight, and we battered the Swiss. We couldn't really have asked for anymore, and another night we'd have hit five or six. We just have to hope that 'another night' is in the return game in Switzerland, because the way things are shaping up, it could all come down to that game.
I went for Gerrard as the star man, mainly due to his first half display which I thought was magnificent. We didn't miss Hamann at all tonight, and for that Stevie has to take credit. It was he who was trying to drive us forward, and despite the occasional pass going astray, generally he was excellent. Basel couldn't get near our defence for most of the game because Gerrard was stopping al their attacks before they reached Sami and Steph. He just edges out the hard working Milan Baros.
I couldn't finish this report without mentioning the superb visiting fans. I think there may have been a bit of trouble before the game (not sure of the details at the moment), but inside the stadium they were brilliant. There was one strange moment in the first half, when to a man they all shouted out what sounded like "Boo." It had gone a bit quiet at that point, and when they did it I fucking nearly shit myself!
And as for taunting us with "You only sing when you're winning"can I suggest to any reds who are going over there for the return game, find out the Swiss for "Who the fucking hell are you" and give them some of their own medicine.
Team: Jerzy Dudek; Jamie Carragher, Sami Hyypia, Stephane Henchoz John Arne Riise; Danny Murphy, Steven Gerrard, Bruno Cheyrou, Emile Heskey (El Hadji Diouf); Milan Baros, Michael Owen (Patrik Berger):
