The Chile forward has been the standout star in north London since his €40 million arrival, and the 39-year-old feels he would have been the perfect replacement for Luis Suarez

Gary Neville feels Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez would have been the “perfect replacement” for Luis Suarez at Liverpool.

The Chile international was sold by Barcelona to make room for the arrival of Suarez for €86 million, allowing Arsene Wenger to secure the forward’s signature for €40m.

Sanchez has impressed since his arrival – boasting a team-high 14 goals and 30 chances created – and Neville feels the forward would have softened the blow of the Uruguayan’s exit with Liverpool’s form faltering since.

“[Sanchez] would have been an ideal replacement for Luis Suarez. Goals, tenacity, pressing from the front, loses the ball – it goes past him he runs back,” he told Sky Sports.

“Everything Liverpool would have wanted to replace Suarez, obviously you could argue he wouldn’t score the goals Suarez would score, but I think he would have been the perfect replacement for Suarez.

“It’s a real shame for Liverpool they didn’t get him, but a massive plus for Arsenal.”

Sanchez scored his 14th goal of the season on Wednesday night as Arsenal beat Borussia Dortmund to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage for the 15th consecutive season.

The Switzerland international has taken great encouragement out of his side’s display against the European Cup holders ahead of their crunch clash with Liverpool at Anfield

Fabian Schar has claimed that Basel deserved a draw from their Champions League clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday night.

Cristiano Ronaldo put Los Blancos ahead 10 minutes before the break at St. Jakob-Park but the home side never looked like folding against the European Cup holders.

Indeed, Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted after the game that Basel had put his side under serious pressure in the second half and Schar was disappointed that they did not have anything to show for their efforts come full-time.

“We could have got more out of the game,” the defender told reporters.

“It was an evenly fought contest from which we deserved a point. We were only lacking a goal.

“But we’re still second in the group and with a point against Liverpool we’ll go through.

“From that perspective, nothing has changed.”

Basel boss Paulo Sousa also felt it only right that Basel still have their Champions League destiny in their own hands after standing their ground against a Madrid side that has now won 15 games in a row in all competitions.

“I’m proud of the players, the team and the fans,” the Portuguese coach enthused. “We deserved more.

“The players are increasingly taking on board my ideas. You can see that we can compete better and better with big teams.

“The team’s belief in our ideas is growing; you could see that in the second half.”

Basel sit second in Group B, two points clear of third-placed Liverpool and basement boys Ludogorets ahead of their December 9 trip to Anfield.

The Italian says Paulo Sousa’s men are in better shape than the Reds and feels the Swiss will get the result they need at Anfield to make the Champions League knockout stage

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has tipped Basel to progress to the last 16 of the Champions League at Liverpool’s expense.

Los Blancos clinched top spot in Group B by beating the Swiss champions 1-0 at St. Jakob-Park on Wednesday night, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the only goal of the game as the European Cup holders racked up a club-record 15th successive win in all competitions.

Basel now need to avoid defeat at Liverpool in the final round of fixtures in order to pip the Reds to the second automatic qualification spot and Ancelotti fancies Paulo Sousa’s men to get a positive result at Anfield.

“I think Basel are currently better than Liverpool,” the Italian +told reporters. “I see a small advantage for Basel for the last round.”

Indeed, Ancelotti admitted that Basel had posed Madrid plenty of problems with their high-intensity game.

“We did not play as we usually do,” the former Chelsea boss conceded. “We defended well, we concentrated well and the most important thing was the victory.

“But Basel played with a lot of heart. They showed an intense game and were able to put us under pressure in the second half.”

Liverpool will host Basel at Anfield on December 9, while Madrid are tackling Ludogorets at the Santiago Bernabeu at the same time.