Steven Gerrard can inspire Liverpool in Champions League - Kolo Toure

Kolo Toure believes Steven Gerrard can be the "magician"
who sends Liverpool into the knockout stages of the Champions
League, and feels the veteran can add to his reputation as the
man for the big occasion.
Brendan Rodgers' team need to beat Basel at Anfield on
Tuesday to qualify for the last 16 of the competition for the
first time since the 2008-09 season.
Skipper Gerrard delivered the goal, against Olympiakos, in
their final group game in December 2004 to take them through
and then scored in Liverpool's Champions League final win in
2005.
And centre-back Toure, a 2006 Champions League finalist
with Arsenal, thinks the midfielder has the same capacity to
make the difference at 34 years old as he did at 24.
"He is a man for great days," he said. "He makes the magic
when no one can make it. That is why he is one of the best
players in the world.
"His age is nothing, people just keep talking but if you have a
player like that in your dressing room it is very important with
his experience."
Gerrard began on the bench for Liverpool's 0-0 draw against
Sunderland on Saturday as Rodgers rested his captain, but
Toure feels he can still make an impact in shorter spells.
"Players like that don't need 90 minutes to make the
difference, only 20 or 30 minutes, and I am really happy to
have him as a captain first and as a man because he is a great
player," he said.
Toure warned Liverpool to be wary of the pace of Basel,
who beat the English club 1-0 in Switzerland in October.
"We have to defend very well," he continued. "I think it is a
must-win game, it is like a final. We will take some risks to
win the game, push from the back.
"I think tactically they will be better than Sunderland and
going forward they are going to be dangerous as they have
quick and intelligent players. We will give 100 percent to try
to win. That is all we need to do."
Toure won his place back after impressing in Liverpool's 1-0
defeat to Real Madrid and he applauded Rodgers for
changing his mind and bringing himself, Rickie Lambert and
Lucas Leiva into the team as they have claimed seven points
from their last three league games.
He added: "I try to do my bit on the pitch and a lad like
Rickie Lambert has been amazing for us, with Lucas really
strong in the middle, and the manager making the changes has
really helped the team.
"Give credit to them; we didn't start games at the beginning of
the season but we have been working hard every day for our
time."