Liverpool Cup hopes take a battering

Liverpool 1 Basle 1

Only a first half effort by Milan Baros found did find the net, but the Swiss champions stole a priceless point with their only genuine chance of the night through Julio Rossi. Liverpool, clearly intent on erasing the memory of Valencia from their minds, were almost ahead on just 70 seconds. Baros had already gone on an electrifying run to the edge of the box, and a corner followed.

The ball curled in from Danny Murphy and was struck on the volley by John Arne Riise, the ball bouncing down and up onto the crossbar. On nine minutes, Riise hit the crossbar again after smashing a 0-yard shot Basle’s first effort almost produced a goal on 20 minutes. A corner was half-cleared and belted back into the box, where a fortunate bounce ended at Hakan Yakin’s feet, and his snap shot fizzed just wide.