Houllier: Crucial match (PhilCole/Allsport)

The Merseysiders need victory to finish second in their group - and that would mean they will take on the winners of another group in the knockout stage.

Houllier's side stand in third place - a point behind Basle - but the Frenchman believes they can gain the points they need to qualify.

And, despite Liverpool's unbeaten Premiership run being ended by Middlesbrough at the weekend, he is confident they will bounce back in the Champions League.

He said: 'We have improved mentally to overcome difficult periods. The Basle game is another opportunity to show that, on the back of a defeat, we can show something special. We will do that.'

Houllier, approaching his fourth anniversary in charge of the club, added: 'The best way to celebrate that is to get the result we need in Basle. There is no ambiguity about it - we go there for a win and we will give our all.

'It is exactly the same situation as last season, when we had to win our last game to qualify.'

But Basle star Julio Hernan Rossi warned Liverpool that they will face a tough challenge, explaining: 'We mustn't have it in the back of our minds that a draw will do.