Houllier has high praise for Gross rebound

CHRISTIAN GROSS brings Swiss champions Basle to Anfield with a glowing tribute from Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier ringing in his ears.

The Anfield chief is full of praise for the way Gross shrugged off a disastrous spell as Tottenham manager to guide Basle to success in Switzerland, saying: ‘‘Class always comes to the surface.’’

Gross has had great success with Basle since quitting White Hart Lane, taking them to the Swiss double and into the Champions League for the first time.

Gross was manager at Spurs from November 1997 to May 1998 and his spell in charge failed to live up to expectations.

But Houllier said: ‘‘We all learn from our experiences, we would be stupid if we didn’t do that when we make mistakes.

‘‘There are a couple of ways of approaching the problem. You say it’s fate, it is the referee, the pitch or the wind. Or you say nothing and you wait for the opportunity to bounce back. I always say that talent always bounces back.’’

Basle (probable side): Zuberbuhler, Haas, Quennoz, M Yakin, Atouba; Barberis, Cantaluppi, Esposito, H Yakin, Gimenez, Rossi.