10-man Liverpool crash out despite late rally inspired by Steven Gerrard

Liverpool threatened to repeat their Olympiacos heroics from 10 years ago but Steven Gerrard's late goal was not enough as they exited the Champions League with a 1-1 draw against Basel.

Fabian Frei put the Swiss side ahead after 25 minutes as Liverpool struggled in an awful first-half performance at Anfield.

Gerrard struck a reply with nine minutes remaining as he converted a perfect free-kick, but the man who dragged Liverpool through a decade ago could not force a repeat as Brendan Rodgers' side had to settle for a place in the Europa League.

The Reds went into the contest knowing exactly what they needed to do to join Real Madrid in the last 16, but produced an insipid display wracked with fear and anxiety. Liverpool were outplayed for large spells and could have fallen further behind if Marco Streller's sliced volley had been on target.

Rodgers made a double change at the break to try to instigate the fight back but saw his side's hopes suffer a major blow when substitute Lazar Markovic was harshly red carded for catching Behrang Safari with a flailing hand.

However, the setback seemed to inspire Liverpool and they gave themselves a lifeline when Gerrard curled home to set up a barnstorming finale. Jordan Henderson twice went close to winning it in the dying embers of the contest, but in truth they didn't do enough over the 90 minutes to avoid an early exit from Europe's elite competition as Basel progressed.

PRE-MATCH: Gerrard returns. Steven Gerrard is back in the Liverpool side after being rested against Sunderland. The Reds skipper is one of four changes from the weekend with Jose Enrique, Dejan Lovren and Joe Allen also coming in. Kolo Toure misses out through injury while there is no place in the squad for Fabio Borini, fuelling rumours he will leave in the January transfer window.

13' - BASEL CHANCE! Zuffi plays a delightful pass into the path of Gashi who lashes a shot just wide of the near post from the left edge of the area.

25' - GOAL!LIVERPOOL 0-1 BASEL. Frei gives Basel the lead. The Basel midfielder flashes a low shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner after a delightful exchange with Zuffi.

60' - SO CLOSE! Xhaka rampages at the Liverpool defence, holds off a challenge and fires inches past the post. Not sure if Mignolet would have got that. Liverpool still alive.

61' - RED CARD! Liverpool down to 10 men as Markovic is shown a straight red for throwing a hand into Safari's face as he tried to run free. Very harsh.

81' - GOAL!LIVERPOOL 1-1 BASEL. Liverpool are level!!! Gerrard steps up and curls a sublime free kick into the top corner. Stunning effort.

87' - LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Henderson leaps to guide a deflected header towards goal. It looks to be trickling in but Vaclik adjusts his feet to get down a save it.

90+3' - LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Henderson flashes in a rasping shot from distance but it's brilliantly pushed away by Vaclik. That will surely be their last opportunity to rescue their CL campaign.

Steven Gerrard scored his 100th Liverpool goal at Anfield.

Brendan Rodgers' men conceded in all six of their Champions League group games this season.

Liverpool have never reached the knockout rounds of the Champions League when they have automatically qualified for the group stage.

Liverpool have never lost at Anfield in the Champions League when Steven Gerrard has scored (W11 D1).

Liverpool have failed to qualify from the initial group stage of the Champions League for only the third time (2002/03, 2009/10 and 2013/14). This is their ninth campaign.

Lazar Markovic is the third Liverpool player to be sent off in the Champions League, after Dietmar Hamann and Jermaine Pennant.

(Stats courtesy of Opta and Infostrada)

What now for Liverpool? The Reds have endured a disappointing season and they are unrecognisable from the side that went so close to Premier League title glory just six months ago. Rodgers has been lauded for his pure football philosophy, but even that seems to have disappeared. The Reds are dull to watch and lack bite in attack - despite the late rally inspired by Gerrard's brilliance. Add to that their leaky defence and it seems likely Reds fans will have to get used to more pain, with their dismay compounded by a return to Thursday night football in the Europa League.

Fabian Frei (Basel): Scored the Swiss side's goal and was instrumental in their first half dominance. Always a threat.

Liverpool: Mignolet 6, Johnson 5, Enrique 5, Lovren 5, Skrtel 6, Lucas 5, Allen 5, Henderson 6, Gerrard 6, Sterling 7, Lambert 5. Subs: Moreno 6, Markovic 5, Coutinho 5.

Basel: Vaclik 6, Schar 7, Suchy 6, Safari 6, Zuffi 7, Xhaka 7, Frei 8, Eleny 6, Gonzalez 7, Gashi 7, Streller 7. Subs: Embolo 6, Diaz n/a, Samuel n/a.