Brendan Rodgers’ ability to manage at the highest level can rightly be questioned after Liverpool‘s UEFA Champions League hopes were extinguished on Tuesday night, as they were sent crashing out by Basel.

With the Reds unlikely to effectively challenge for a top-four place this season, many are also wondering whether this will be Steven Gerrard‘s last appearance in the competition.

Liverpool went into the game with destiny in their own hands, knowing that a win would see them qualify from Group B behind Real Madrid, but they were only able to muster a 1-1 draw.

Fabian Frei put the visitors ahead midway through the first half, and things went from bad to worse for Liverpool when substitute Lazar Markovic was sent off on the hour mark.

A Gerrard wonder goal and a resurgent final 10 minutes gave the Reds hope, but in truth, the Merseysiders were poor for most of the game and would not have deserved a win.

There was a nervous excitement among fans prior to the game. Rodgers’ team selection drew raised eyebrows from The Sunday Times football correspondent Jonathan Northcroft and AFP London Sports correspondent Tom Williams: 

The scepticism proved to be well-founded, as Liverpool produced a lethargic first-half display. Rodgers’ decision to field four central midfielders ensured a sluggish pace to the Reds’ play while Rickie Lambert cut an isolated figure up front.

Anfield, famous for its atmosphere on European nights, was as subdued as the team were on the pitch.

Unsurprisingly, this didn’t escape the mockery of those on Twitter.

Gary Neville’s quip that Liverpool’s upcoming match with Manchester United could resemble a pub game gained plenty of traction on Twitter, as the Reds laboured to no avail.

After Frei‘s fine strike put Basel ahead, supporters were already beginning Liverpool’s autopsy.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom, though, with some seeing the humorous side of things.

Rodgers’ double substitution at half-time left many questioning the absence of Adam Lallana and Philippe Coutinho. 

The man who came on in their place, Markovic, immediately injected the side with more pace and vigour—for about 15 minutes.

The Serb, tracked through the midfield by Behrang Safari, floated an arm towards Safari’s face. To say the Swede went down theatrically would be an understatement:

ITV commentator Andy Townsend rushed to the defence of Markovic, citing the minimal contact and Safari’s reaction. Understandably, a number of Liverpool fans were in agreement.

More measured heads had their say as well.

According to talkSPORT, Rodgers described the red card as an “awful decision.” 

However, Markovic knew exactly where Safari was, and in flinging his arm back, he showed intent and gave the referee a decision to make regardless of the contact or reaction.

Liverpool limped on for 20 minutes with 10 men before—exactly 10 years and a day after that Olympiakos goal set the Reds on track to win their fifth European Cup—Gerrard did this:

Gerrard’s sublime free-kick finally brought his team to life, and the final minutes were by far the most exciting of the match as the Reds threw everything at Basel.

Townsend was, as he so often is, the subject of contempt in the Twittersphere, as he practically cheered the Merseysiders on.

Liverpool’s late efforts were for naught in the end, as Basel hung on to reach the last 16 for the first time since 2011/12.

Rodgers’ side will now be playing Europa League football for the remainder of the season. Not quite the result fans were hoping for.

Many were quick to point out that Liverpool still have a chance to qualify for the Champions League next year by winning the lesser competition.

In fact, sportlinglife.com report that the Reds are now favourites to win it despite Liverpool showing nothing at the moment to indicate they can overcome the likes of Napoli, Inter Milan or Sevilla. 

Their failure to escape a group containing Basel and Ludogorets shows how far the Reds have fallen since narrowly missing out on the Premier League title last year.

Of course, not all of that is Rodgers’ fault. 

The absence of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge, who scored 52 goals between them in the league last season, was always going to make it impossible for them to hit the same heights this year. 

What Rodgers must take responsibility for is that Liverpool’s defence, which conceded 51 times and cost them the title, has not improved whatsoever.

In fact, it’s probably even worse.

Then there are his dealings in the transfer market.

During his time at the club, Rodgers has brought in 25 players at a total of £212 million. Of those, the only players to have a real positive impact on the team so far are Sturridge and Coutinho. This is something that has to improve.

The Northern Irishman’s inability to stir a convincing performance from his players in any of their six group games raises serious concerns as to whether he’s cut out to manage at this level.

At 41, there is still plenty of time for Rodgers to become a top manager, and he deserves the chance to turn things around at Liverpool.

If he can instil his players with the confidence they enjoyed last year and do the right business in January, then his side may yet mount a challenge to either win the Europa League or achieve a top-four finish.

But based on last night’s performance, Rodgers has a massive job on his hands.

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