Liverpool suffered second half heart-break and more injuries in a disappointing Champions League game against French league leaders Lyon.
Against this quality of opposition a team needs to play to their full potential to get the result and Liverpool, for 75 minutes of this fixture, seemed incapable of passing to a fellow red shirt. Some Liverpool players should be thoroughly embarrassed by their so-called efforts.
Glen Johnson was ruled out of the squad on the morning of the game – adding to Liverpool’s woes after Albert Riera was also ruled out. Fernando Torres was still missing from the line up and Steven Gerrard was named in the side before re-injuring his groin and coming off mid-way through the first half.
Liverpool played poorly in the opening half hour before suddenly turning the pressure back up. The reds had a goal ruled out when Dirk Kuyt was judged to have pushed a Lyon defender. After a David N’gog chance was well saved, moments later Yossi Benayoun put the ball in the net in the Kop end to put Liverpool ahead. The reds finished the first half strongly and could have doubled the lead.
The reds opened the second half brightly, with a Benayoun header going close.
However, Lyon were pressing for the equaliser. From a corner a Reina punch landed the ball straight at the oppositions feet. They shot, Reina saved, straight back to Lyon and another reaction save from Reina before Gonalons fired in to the empty net.
Matters got worse when Martin Kelly went off injured after a very impressive game for the inexperienced player.
Liverpool suffered a sucker punch in injury time when a cross passed through three defenders before Salgado slotted home in to an empty net after Carragher failed to challenge.
Liverpool can still qualify but it might require 3 more wins in the group.
Post Match Comments
Rafael Benitez
“We’ve come back before – and we can do it again.
“We now must be ready for the next game. I have confidence we have the quality to overcome these problems.”
“We have to push players now, to keep working and to maintain our confidence,” said Benitez.
“We just had too many problems before and during the game. Losing Glen Johnson before the match, and then Gerrard and Martin Kelly during the match, was just too much to contend with.
“It was a difficult game with all our problems, and we had done well to be leading at the break. Then we had two or three chances soon after the interval.
“Had we scored, it would have changed everything.”
“It was not a gamble to play Gerrard. He wanted to play and had trained normally for two games.
“He was given the all-clear by the doctor, and what happened was just bad luck. He felt something wrong in his groin, and it was wise to come off.”
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Agger, Insua, Carragher, Kelly (Skrtel 74), Gerrard (Aurelio 25), Benayoun (Voronin 84), Mascherano, Lucas, Kuyt, Ngog.
Subs not used: Cavalieri, Skrtel, Spearing, Plessis, Babel.
Lyon: Lloris, Cris (Gonalons 42), Reveillere, Cissokho, Kallstrom, Pjanic, Ederson (Gomis 61), Makoun, Toulalan, Lopez (Delgado 86), Govou.
Subs not used: Vercoutre, Clerc, Michel Bastros, Belfodil.
Ref: Undiano Mallenco
Att: 41,562
Our Man of the Match
An excellent performance for the inexperienced Martin Kelly.
Another terrible performance by our team that without Torres and Gerrard would be fighting relagation despite having spent million’s but on complete duds.Things are so bad that our lieing owners can’t afford sacking our terrible manager so together these three are destroying our great club internally
If things don’t change fast then we could be like Leeds or Notts Forest within the next few seasons.
We have no strenght in depth, Money and a manager with no vision.
Would Paul anderson or Adam Hamill have been good enough to play tonight?
I think so, alot better that Voronin or Ngog.
Again they were sold for peanuts.
liverpool lack the killer instinct of years ago,some veteran players have to be dropped. one bright spot martin kelly played like he has been in the first team for years. have to retool and think positive.two players dont make a team watch out for beach balls saturday
Hey all we will do it! we are liverpool fc and it says all!!!! GOD is with us!! positive!!!
absolutely woeful performance,playing like how they did and at anfield,what is happening,i thought this season was going to be different and we were going to challenge for the top honours,yes we can still pull it of but the whole squad need to play at there very best if we are to achieve anything this season,we cant just relay on our top 2 players
Just 1 question in my mind. What next Rafa?
its been the start of a nightmare not the season and maybe already into climax.
The yankees r 2 be blamed for lack of funding no doubt but where the quality in the youth? where is the quality and depth in the ‘after 11’? Ngog, is he the answer if nando is out? Veronin? Who has that quality? Why cant they deliver? is this the future without FT and SG? who is next, rafa? what material have u devloped? apart from Insua who has been goin ok so far, whats up with rest?
why cant we have those teens who rock the first 11 for a place. certainly the worlds greats have always emerged from their teens, so SG is the last for us? lets get some more SG’s and a few messi’s and zizou’s in our youth. Does big money still matter here? or is it the hunting ability of the backroom team? whats going on for the last 5 years?
Its a sad day that this questions come in my mind. does Rafa go b4 the Yankees let go?
one thot brings peace. we will peak at the time when most teams will start feeling tired and lossen up. during and after xmas. we should get over the nightmare by then and start getting those 3pointers to get back.
God bless us all and rafa
Nokx.
we didn’t deserve to lose I heard some of the crowds reaction to the sub but my immediate thought (and this might be wrong) is he was protecting Yossi because he knew Gerrard’s all but out of the Man U game and if we lost yossi through injury we’d have no chance of causing them any danger?
Totally agree that Martin Kelly was brilliant in the match I’d actually have no fears if he recovers and starts in the Liverpool United game he’s had 1 good run out and I already rank him higher than Degen.
Why oh Why are we getting all these injuries ? what is wrong here ?
Tell me what happen? Why is Lucas in Liverpool shirt, starting every game? Those who support Lucas, please , please tell me why he is a good player for Liverpool. I can not understand????