Follow us at @WorldSportCNN and like us on Facebook (CNN) -- A decade and a day might have passed but the script was still the same. If you listen to the soothsayers, the powers of Liverpools talisman are waning. And yet, on a night where most of those in red went missing, Steven Gerrard refused to simply fade into the background. Liverpools Champions League dream is over and perhaps, just perhaps, it is over for Gerrard too. At 34 and without a new contract having been signed, this may just yet be Gerrards final act in this competition -- the pinnacle of European football. But if this is to be the end, then he at least went out in style, not that youd imagine anything else of course. Trailing 1-0 to Swiss side Basel and facing elimination, Gerrard roused Liverpool one final time with a quite magnificent free kick. His curling effort flew over the wall and nestled in the top corner, a strike which will no doubt have the children in the local playgrounds attempting to replicate such a strike. That moment rekindled the memories of yesteryear and Olympiakos in 2004 where Gerrard produced one of the most iconic moments of his career. His 86th minute strike, one of the most ferocious ever unleashed by the midfielder, allowed Liverpool to progress to the last 16 after coming from behind to defeat the Greek side 3-1. That goal was the beginning of Liverpools incredible run to the 2005 final where it defeated AC Milan on penalties after fighting back from 3-0 down at halftime. On this occasion, such heroics were to prove beyond him -- not that he should feel responsible. Far too many of those around him went missing when the club needed it most -- and when Lazar Markovic was sent off after 60 minutes, the task was always going to prove fiendishly difficult. I still knew after I scored that it was going to be difficult with 10 men and running out of time, Gerrard told ITV. It gave us some hope and, as the manager said, the first half was not good enough and we had to go down fighting. I have not seen the sending off, but I have heard it was harsh. It made it harder because we could have made it hell for Basel in the final stages with 11 men. I dont think we deserved better. We have not gone out because of this performance, we werent good enough away to Basel and we let in a silly goal away to Ludogorets. You qualify over six games and we have not been good enough. Liverpools highly anticipated return to the Champions League has been nothing short of an unmitigated disaster. Watch this video Russia urged to tackle racist abuse Watch this video U.S. launches FIFA corruption probe Watch this video FIFA at war over Garcia Report One victory from six games, that a last minute triumph against Bulgarian minnow Ludogorets, is a rather sad indictment of the clubs campaign. The reality is that since the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona and the injury to Daniel Sturridge, the clubs leading forward, Liverpool have struggled. Where last season it could do little wrong, now those in red can do little right. Gone is the pace which brought defenses to its knees, the invention, the effervescence, the enjoyment which was etched across the faces of those in red. Where feet were once nimble and skipped, they are leaden and clumsy. In the Premier League, Liverpool has won six and lost six of its 15 games and is already 15 points behind leader Chelsea. Anfield on European nights is supposed to be one of the most enchanting football arenas in world football. But on this occasion, there was and is nothing magical about this Liverpool side, bar perhaps the cloak of invisibility which seemed to be wrapped up around its tactics and game plan. Basel, which defeated Liverpool in Switzerland earlier in the competition, deserved their place in the last 16 following an impressive first half performance. Fabian Freis fine effort which flew past Simon Mignolet, the Liverpool keeper, ensured the visiting side took its advantage into the interval. A second goal almost came after the break when Taulant Xhakas fierce drive flew just inches wide of the far post with Mignolet a mere spectator. Liverpool, having made two changes at the start of the second half, had hoped for maximum impact from its substitutes. Instead, what it got was stupidity and petulance. Markovic had only been on the field of play for 15 minutes but when he flicked his hand out towards Behrang Safari, he was immediately shown the red card. While Safaris reaction was laughable, Markovic had no defense -- it was a pathetic end to what had been an impressive 15 minute cameo. From there on Liverpool was fighting an uphill battle. And yet, as as so often been the case, one man rose to the challenge as he has done on countless occasions throughout the years. Once again, with his side laying on the canvas, he dragged his teammates to their feet with an outstanding strike. Just nine minutes of normal time remained when Liverpool was awarded a free kick some 20-yards from goal. Gerrard stood over the ball and with most of those inside Anfield holding their breath, Gerrard calmly sent the most delectable of efforts sailing over the wall and into the top corner. Mario Balotelli has had a low key start to his Liverpool career after a big-money move from Italian giants AC Milan. The English club finished runner-up in the Premier League last season but have stuttered so far, losing six of its 13 competitive fixtures. Balotelli has failed to scored a goal in those 13 matches for his new club after a move reported to be worth $25 million. We got to a point when we were looking for a different kind of player and he was looking for a different challenge, Milan director Umberto Gandini told CNN of Balotellis departure from Milan. Balotelli has also shown flashes of the temper that have punctuated his career since returning to England -- confronting West Ham United goalkeeper Adrian during Liverpools 3-1 defeat in September. Balotellis first stint in England came with current Premier League champions Manchester City between August 2010 and January 2013. Perhaps his defining moment in sky blue came when he scored during Citys 6-1 derby demolition of Manchester United and revealed a t-shirt that read Why always me? Balotelli has 33 caps for Italy, scoring 13 goals, the last being his winner in the 2014 World Cup group stage clash against England. But that be would the Azzurris only success in Brazil, as they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica before another one goal defeat -- to Uruguay -- eliminated them. After the World Cup, Balotelli failed to make two Italy squads, perhaps reflecting his indifferent form for Liverpool, though he was recalled in November, before picking an injury on international duty. Balotelli burst onto the scene with AC Milans city neighbors Internazionale in December 2007. He had a fractious relationship with then Inter boss Jose Mourinho, leaving for Manchester City in 2010 after scoring 20 goals in 59 matches for the club. Balotellis move from City to AC Milan angered Inter fans, who share a stadium with its city rivals. Gandini hailed Balotellis contribution in his first season at the club as his goal helped it make the European Champions League. But after just one full campaign with the club Balotelli was on the move for the fourth time in his fledgling career, his new manager Brendan Rodgers admitting signing the striker was a calculated risk, given his disciplinary problems and off-field antics. Gandini said of the mercurial player: The expectation was probably bigger (at AC Milan), and I think also his expectations, and he has not reached the status yet where he can carry the club. Until he will do that he wont be able to fulfill his promises. I hope he does fulfill his potential, for him, for Liverpool and for the national team. Super Mario\s last chance? Super Marios last chance? Which maestro is most marketable? Which maestro is most marketable? A published report claims UEFA president Michel Platini was gifted a Picasso painting in return for support for the Russia 2018 World Cup bid. Platini strenuously denies the allegation. Russia and Qatar, the hosts of the two World Cups, have been cleared of allegations of corruption by FIFA. Russia, the 2018 host and Qatar, which will host the tournament in 2022, were absolved of wrongdoing. Michael Garcia (left) handed his report on the bidding process for the 2018 / 2022 World Cups to the FIFA Ethics Committee. Garcia has also called for the findings of his report to be made public. FIFA has been plagued by a series of problems and controversies since Russia and Qatar was awarded the right to stage the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. The announcement by FIFA in 2010 that Qatar would host the 2022 World Cup finals has brought greater exposure for the tiny emirate. It has also placed world governing body FIFA under pressure as to just when the tournament will be held. The organizations secretary general Jerome Valcke says he expects the 2022 World Cup to be played between November and January. Its not just when the 2022 World Cup will be played that has caused Qatar and FIFA problems. Qatar has come under pressure over the plight of the countrys migrant workers, who make up 90 per cent of Qatars population. This has been been highlighted by the International Trade Union Confederation, which has criticized Qatars system of sponsorship which ties workers to employers and has been abused in the past. The ITUC also point to the high number of worker deaths and the conditions that many find themselves in. Temperatures on building sites in the summer months can hit 50 degree Celcius. Qatars ambitious plans for the 2022 World Cup include building brand new, state of the art stadiums that would rival any in the world. But costs have spiraled and the technology has yet to be successfully deployed in full. But the new allegations by the Sunday Times could, if proven, see the vote for the 2022 final rerun, making questions about timing irrelevant. The Sunday Times report also claims Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) allegedly won the covert support of FIFA President Sepp Blatter (R) to enhance the claims of the Russia 2018 bid. 2022 World Cup in Qatar 2022 World Cup in Qatar Then came the roar, the clenching of fists and the injection of belief which had been so sorely lacking. Suddenly there was a confidence about Liverpool as it laid siege to the Basel goal in a frantic finale. Those in the Kop end tried to suck the ball into the net as the red shirts moved forward at every opportunity. Jordan Hendersons header was saved on the line, Martin Skrtel poked wide. Gerrard roared his players forward but to no avail. The game was up. We have to fight going forward to be in this competition next season, Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager, told ITV. We are not too far off the top four and, if we get there, we will be better in it next season. The possibility of January signings is something to discuss with the owners, but there was a big investment in the summer. We have been unlucky with injuries to key players who are important to the way that we play, but that is to take nothing away from the players tonight who have put everything into the game. Elsewhere, Real Madrid recorded a club record 19th consecutive victory by defeating Bulgarian minnow Ludogorets 4-0. Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale were both on target for the Spanish club which progresses to the next round as the group winner. Also through to the next stage is Spanish champion Atletico Madrid which drew 0-0 with Juventus, which qualifies second in Group A. Borussia Dortmund topped Group D despite a 1-1 draw with Anderlecht, while Arsenal finished second after thrashing Galatasaray 4-1 in Istanbul. In Group C, Monaco defeated Zenit Saint Petersburg 2-0 to claim top spot, one point ahead of Bayer Leverkusen which finished second after a goalless draw away at Benfica. Read: Balotelli sorry for offensive social media post
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 00:54:44 +0000
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