Champions League: Liverpool on brink of exit; Real Madrid play Basel

Liverpool: Wins have not come easy for Liverpool this season, neither at home in England or in the Champions League.

But a win on Wednesday in Bulgaria against Ludogorets is exactly what the five-time European champions need to ensure they still have a chance to advance to the second round.

Both Liverpool and Ludogorets are at the bottom of Group B with three points. Real Madrid lead the way with 12 points, while FC Basel has six.

Liverpool needed an injury-time penalty from Steven Gerrard to salvage a 2-1 win over Ludogorets in their opener. A second victory in Bulgaria plus a Basel loss to the defending champions would set up a decisive game against the Swiss side at Anfield in the last group game.

Here are some more things to know about Wednesday's matches:

LIVERPOOL'S WOES

Liverpool lost their fourth consecutive match on Sunday, a 3-1 defeat at Crystal Palace that left them in 12th place in the Premier League.

Now they must gather themselves if they want to prolong their first Champions League campaign in five years. "We're doing everything we can to make sure we improve," Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet said. "We will become stronger if we all stick together."

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Ludogorets will be hosting their first ever English opponent, but they won't welcome Liverpool to their home ground.

They are playing in Sofia, 400 kilometers (248 miles) from Ludogorets Arena because that stadium fails to meet competition regulations.

TIME TO REST

Madrid all but has the top spot locked up, only needing to avoid a defeat of four goals to ensure it finishes first with a game left.

That means Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti may rotate his starting 11 with a trip to Malaga in the Spanish league coming on Saturday.

The leading candidates to benefit and possibly start would be Javier Hernandez, Fabio Coentrao and goalkeeper Keylor Navas.

Cristiano Ronaldo, however, will likely not miss the chance to add to his 70 career goals in the tournament.

SWISS CHEESE

Basel can qualify for the last 16, but need to stop conceding five goals to Spanish sides.

A 5-1 loss at Real Madrid in September followed a 5-0 extra-time defeat at Valencia in April to exit the Europa League quarter-finals.

And the last time Basel hosted a Spanish team in the Champions League, Barcelona won 5-0 in October 2008.

Basel will advance if they beat already-qualified Madrid and Liverpool fail to win.