LIVERPOOL -- Brendan Rodgers has called on his Liverpool players to write their names into Anfield European folklore by beating Swiss champions Basel on Tuesday. The Reds must win to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages after an indifferent campaign so far.
Monday's news conference was held on the 10th anniversary of one of the most famous nights in the club's European history.
Steven Gerrard scored a spectacular late goal to seal a 3-1 victory over Greek side Olympiakos at Anfield on Dec. 8, 2004 -- ensuring Liverpool made it through the group by the tightest of margins before they went on to become European champions for the fifth time the following May.
The Reds have not won the Champions League since, but manager Rodgers is looking a great European performance to spark their season into life.
He said: "This is a competition with a great history here for Liverpool. The Olympiakos game was a part of that great history.
"It's an opportunity for the players to qualify and make sure write themselves into folklore by winning the game and getting to the next round, because that's the objective."
Rodgers acknowledged that Liverpool -- who are ninth in the Premier League -- have been nowhere near the standards of the side he led to a runners-up spot last season.
Saturday's frustrating 0-0 draw at home to struggling Sunderland offered little comfort, even though it extended the Reds' unbeaten run to four matches. But Rodgers has played down the idea that an early Champions League exit will leave their season in tatters.
He said: "We're only focusing on the positive result. We see it as an opportunity rather than a threat to anything we're doing this season.
"It's a cup competition and it's the final game. We want to qualify. If we get through, we can put it to bed for a few months and hope it will give us that confidence in our league form as well to keep moving forward.
"I think we've shown in the last few weeks that the group is starting to come together again after a disappointing spell.
"We haven't had the consistency this season but slowly, game by game, I can see the differences in the team, the focus and the concentration -- and what we have in the squad is quality.
"We know it's a tough game. But playing at home, we've seen what the home crowd can do for the team. If we can come together tomorrow night and get the victory, qualify for the next round, which was the objective, then look to use that as confidence for the rest of our games."
Midfielder Joe Allen thinks that Gerrard's European experience can help Liverpool repeat their European heroics of 10 years ago.
Allen said: "It was great that Stevie's got that experience of being in this situation. It's a great game for all of us to be inspired by. We hope we'll have enough to get that win again and get us through to the knockout stages.
"Stevie's an iconic inspiration figure and a world-class player. He's a huge player to have in our team and he could be that difference. We're looking forward to seeing some more magic from Stevie."
But Rodgers has warned Liverpool against over-relying on their 34-year-old captain, whose form this season has not consistently matched his peak, and who is still deciding whether to sign a new contract that will extend his stay at Anfield beyond the end of this season.
"We can't rely solely on Steven," Rodgers said. "It has to be about a team performance. We need other players to step up to the mark and take on the responsibility, and not just place it solely on his shoulders.
"I think there are very few world-class players around so when you are that talent, then the responsibility falls on you. But for us, it's never been about that. It's about the collective.
"For us to get the result tomorrow night, we need the whole team to be functioning well and playing at a good level."
Rodgers indicated that striker Mario Balotelli will miss a sixth successive game with the groin problem he sustained in mid-November.
The manager said he was aware of the dangers posed by Basel, managed by Paulo Sousa, who Rodgers succeeded as boss of Swansea in 2010.
"We don't underestimate the opponent," Rodgers said. "Paulo's done a great job there. They're the top side in Switzerland and show that in their performance. The focus on us is to win the game."
Rodgers refused to be drawn on his interest in signing 15-year-old Norway midfielder Martin Odegaard, who visited Liverpool's training ground last week.
He said: "I will say nothing on a young player or any player involved with another club. Martin's a talent but he's not a Liverpool player. I will say nothing on him."