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."