Boss: How Basel blow helped mould Stevie

First there was Real Madrid, the reigning European champions, who were so effortlessly put to the sword at Anfield in March 2009, thrashed by a Gerrard-inspired Reds outfit as they stormed to a 5-0 aggregate victory.

Lastly came the Bulgarians, Ludogorets Razgrad - an unknown entity even to a player of Gerrard's European distinction and a side making their first appearance in the Champions League following a whirlwind play-off win.

And then there was FC Basel, the Swiss outfit who managed to weather a Liverpool comeback in 2002 to eliminate the Reds on what was one of the toughest nights in Gerrard's early Anfield career.

The 22-year-old was withdrawn at half-time from a game his side needed to win to secure qualification from their group. They trailed 3-0 at the interval. They had been blown away by Basel.

Gerard Houllier's team launched a fight-back. Danny Murphy, Vladimir Smicer and Michael Owen all scored at St. Jakob-Park; however, a 3-3 draw was not enough to clinch them a place in the next round.

Gerrard was dejected, but by the Scouser's own admission, he learned quickly and consummately from the events of November 12, 2002, before going on to shine on the European stage with his boyhood club in the years that followed.

"I've spoken to Steven about that night and I know he had an experience that really helped him in his career going forward," said Brendan Rodgers, speaking ahead of the meeting between Liverpool and Basel this evening.

"He got brought off at half-time. He obviously had a fantastic relationship with Gerard Houllier.

"He was a young player who learned from very early on that you need to perform and prepare."

No Liverpool player has scored more goals in European competition than the 34-year-old who will lead them out at the home of the reigning Swiss champions tonight.

Gerrard swept home his 40th goal in 125 appearances in continental competition as the clock ticked down under the Anfield floodlights against Ludogorets two weeks ago.

Once again, the skipper's composure and conviction was the difference as he drove the ball into the Kop net to clinch a 2-1 victory in the Reds' opening Group B encounter.

Tonight will be Gerrard's 83rd Champions League game for Liverpool - and Rodgers expects to see the midfielder's leadership skills and inspirational qualities come to the fore once more on what promises to be a testing evening in Switzerland.

"The players look at how calm Stevie is and they know he has been at the level before and gone right the way through and won the tournament," said Rodgers.

"They can draw inspiration from that. He is calm, whether it is a Champions League game or a league game. His focus is very much the same.

"Even on Wednesday night, when the atmosphere is good and you need that calm head and someone to dictate the tempo of a game, there are not many better than him in world football.

"He is right in the thick of it, he is right in the centre of it, that is the position I have put him in so that he can orchestrate the team. That is something he has done magnificently and the players respond to that."