Liverpool v Lyon: Champions League Preview
Liverpool Face Lyon in Must-win Champions League Match
Oct 19, 2009
After three consecutive defeats without scoring Rafa Benitez will not only be looking for a win against Lyon, but also a convincing performance from his team. A win for the frenchmen will open a six point gap over Liverpool leaving the Anfield giants with it all to do if they are to qualify for the knock-out phase.
Liverpool's Pre-season Billing Has Turned Sour
After all the pre-season hype tipping Liverpool to lift the Premier League title for the first time in 20 years, the season already seems to slipping away from Benitez' grasp. Lack of funds to bring in quality players and the loss of Xabi Alonso over the summer was followed by an opening day defeat at Tottenham Hotspur. Other than convincing displays against Stoke City, Burnley and Hull, Liverpool have not looked anything like the team their early billing suggested.
Nor have they looked convincing in the Champions League. When it comes to the European Stage Benitez knows how to bring the best out in his side. However, a professional yet unconvincing performance to see off Debrecen in a slender 1-0 victory at Anfield and a lacklustre display in the 2-0 defeat against Fiorentina, suggests the Reds are struggling to click into gear and perform to the levels they achieved in the latter half of last season.
Liverpool Welcome Back Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard trained this morning and is expected to start, but Benitez must face the prospect of facing the French league leaders without Fernando Torres who is still recovering from a groin injury he picked up on international duty. Benitez may therefore decide to drop Gerrard back to midfield and start with a front pairing of Dirk Kuyt and Andriy Voronin in a 4-4-2 formation. Alternatively, he'll keep with three at the back pushing Gerrard up front alongside Kuyt and Yossi Benayoun.
It won't have gone unnoticed that Liverpool lack a cutting edge though Lyon coach Claude Puel is remaining cautious. Having acknowledged Liverpool remain one of the best teams in Europe even when they're going through a bad spell, the Frenchman left some of the first team regulars out of the game against Sochaux at the weekend - a decision which resulted in Lyons first taste of defeat in all competitions this season.
Lyon Approaching Game With Caution
The Ligue 1 leaders also head the Champions League group after victories over Fiorentina and Debrecen and will come to Anfield knowing a win will all but assure their passage through to the knock-out stages. The seven-times French champions however, have defensive problems with Jean-Alain Boumsong, Mathieu Bodmer and Clebe Anderson all set to miss out through injury leaving midfielder Jeremey Toulalan to fill the void in the centre of defence.
Liverpool will approach this match as a must-win-game. Though a defeat will not mean their Champions League campaign is over, victory - and a good performance - is much needed to boost the confidence of the players ahead of the clash with Manchester United at Anfield at the weekend. Now that is a must win game!
