Liverpool not only fell among the ranks of the Uefa Cup contenders last night but also inflicted intricate torment on themselves. Which will they regret more? The humiliation when Basle cruised three goals ahead of them or the comeback they could not complete in the second half? Despite the melodrama, the histrionics must not prevent anyone from remembering that the Anfield club deserved to fail.
Basle prepared for this game at a training camp in the Black Forest, where the schedule was composed of videos, lectures and quizzing of the players. The team must have felt they were being indoctrinated into a cult. If so, they emerged with the zeal of true believers.
It was Liverpool who were initially engulfed by the crisis of faith. Gérard Houllier's strategy proved to be founded on a misconception. Knowing Liverpool had to win, he persuaded himself that he could afford to leave out the steady Salif Diao in the interests of fielding a more expressive line-up from the beginning.
It was easy to sympathise with his intentions, but they took too little account of Basle's gung-ho creativity. At St Jakob Park, there is a predatory edge to the already smooth passing of Christian Gross's side. Liverpool, though, should never been such meek prey at the outset.
Qualifiers for Champions League second phase: Arsenal, Borussia Dortmund, Valencia, FC Basle, Real Madrid, AS Roma, Inter Milan, Ajax, Juventus, Manchester United, Bayer Leverkusen, AC Milan, Barcelona (plus three to be decided tonight).
Qualifiers for Uefa Cup third round: Auxerre, Liverpool, AEK Athens, Lyons (plus four from tonight’s matches).